Indian airlines partially resume flights from some Middle East destinations
Domestic airlines including IndiGo, Air India and SpiceJet on Friday began gradually restoring limited flight operations to and from the Middle East, even as thousands of services remain cancelled due to continuing airspace restrictions linked to the ongoing US-Israel war against Iran.
IndiGo said it will operate 17 departures (34 sectors) on Friday to eight Middle East destinations and is working with government authorities to safely resume additional services.
Air India and Air India Express also announced the resumption of flights to and from Jeddah and Muscat after authorities confirmed that the airspaces of Saudi Arabia and Oman had reopened, according to multiple reports.
SpiceJet said it will operate special flights from the United Arab Emirates to India on March 6 and 7, with additional services planned on March 8 to facilitate passenger movement amid the ongoing regional conflict.
IndiGo advised passengers booked on affected flights to wait for direct communication from the airline before heading to the airport.
Air India also announced ad-hoc repatriation flights from hubs including Dubai, Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah on March 6, subject to regulatory approvals.
The airline added that scheduled services to other West Asia destinations will remain suspended until March 10. Passengers holding tickets issued until March 4 for travel between February 28 and March 8 can rebook within one month without additional charges or fare differences.
According to industry data, traffic at Dubai International Airport nearly doubled on Thursday compared to the previous day, reaching about 25 per cent of normal levels.
Data also showed that between February 28 and March 5, more than 44,000 flights were scheduled to operate in and out of the Middle East, but over 25,000 flights have been cancelled so far due to the ongoing situation.
India’s aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, earlier said it was coordinating with airlines and related agencies and had activated a Passenger Assistance Control Room to help stranded travellers.
“The Ministry is in continuous touch with airlines and is closely monitoring airfares to ensure there is no undue surge in ticket prices during this period,” the statement said.
(IANS)
