India Plans 50 Flights From Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Muscat, Jeddah and West Asia as Government Steps Up Evacuation Efforts
India has ramped up aviation operations to bring back stranded travellers from West Asia as the escalating regional war continues to disrupt airspace across the Gulf and surrounding regions.
According to an update issued by the Ministry of Civil Aviation, Indian carriers are planning around 50 flights on March 9 from airports across the Gulf to assist passengers attempting to return home amid the rapidly evolving security situation.
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| Ambassador Deepak Mittal at the passport and consular service centre at Al Reem. File Photo: MEA |
Passenger movement data from March 7 shows that 51 inbound flights operated by Indian carriers arrived in India carrying 8,175 passengers from the region.
Airlines including Air India, Air India Express, IndiGo, SpiceJet and Akasa Air have been operating services from key Gulf hubs such as Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah, Muscat and Jeddah, subject to operational feasibility and prevailing security conditions.
“Indian carriers are continuously assessing the ground situation in other airports of the region, so that more flights can be operated by Indian carriers from these places,” the ministry said, adding that authorities were also monitoring ticket prices to prevent excessive fares during the crisis.
Passengers have been advised to remain in contact with airlines for updates as schedules may change depending on developments in regional airspace.
The expansion of operations comes as the Air India Group announced it would continue limited scheduled services to destinations where airspace remains open.
On March 9, Air India and Air India Express will operate 10 scheduled flights to and from Jeddah and 14 flights to and from Muscat, as airspace over Saudi Arabia and Oman remains accessible.
Air India will operate one round-trip each from Delhi and Mumbai to Jeddah, while Air India Express will operate services connecting Hyderabad, Bengaluru and Kozhikode with the Saudi city.
The airline group will also maintain scheduled operations to Muscat, including services from Delhi, Mumbai, Kannur, Thiruvananthapuram and Tiruchirappalli, along with additional flights from Kochi.
In addition to scheduled services, Air India and Air India Express plan to operate 32 ad-hoc evacuation flights to the United Arab Emirates to help stranded passengers return to India.
These non-scheduled services include multiple flights to Dubai, as well as operations to Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and Ras Al-Khaimah, connecting Indian cities such as Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru and Kochi.
Air India said the flights are being operated with the approval of both Indian and local aviation regulators and remain subject to slot availability and operational conditions.
However, the airline group has also cancelled its scheduled services to several other destinations in West Asia until March 13, offering affected passengers the option to rebook without additional charges or request full refunds.
The aviation disruptions show the growing impact of the Middle East conflict on global travel routes, with several airlines adjusting schedules or suspending operations due to missile threats and airspace closures across parts of the region.
The Indian government has said it is closely monitoring the situation and coordinating with airlines and foreign governments to ensure stranded citizens can return safely.
Addressing Parliament earlier, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said the government was tracking the conflict closely as the crisis carries major implications for India’s economy and energy security.
“The Prime Minister is closely monitoring the developments. We continue to believe that dialogue and diplomacy should be pursued to de-escalate the tensions,” Jaishankar told the Rajya Sabha, and stressed that stability in West Asia remains critical for India.
He also warned that the conflict could disrupt global energy supplies and shipping routes, noting that the Gulf region remains central to India’s oil and gas imports.
“For us, the interests of the Indian consumer has and will always be the overriding priority,” he said, adding that the government was working with partners and energy companies to secure supplies during the volatile situation.
Jaishankar also told lawmakers that protecting Indian citizens abroad remained a key focus, pointing out that tens of thousands of Indians have already returned from the region as airspace conditions permitted and that embassies across West Asia were continuing to assist those still stranded.
“Our national interest, including energy security and trade flows, will always be paramount,” the minister said as the war has crippled aviation routes, trade corridors and security calculations across the wider region.
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