Mumbai: Indian airlines are operating 58 special flights on Wednesday to bring back passengers stranded in the Middle East amid escalating tensions involving the United States, Israel, and Iran. Despite most regional airspace being closed or restricted, carriers are working around the clock to ensure safe and timely repatriation. Stay updated on flight operations, travel advisories, and evacuation efforts.
“Indian carriers are further planning 58 flights on 4th March, including 30 by IndiGo and 23 by Air India and Air India Express. Foreign carriers operating between India and the Gulf region are also undertaking limited operations, subject to operational and airspace considerations,” said Civil Aviation Ministry.
Indian carriers have undertaken calibrated adjustments to their schedules, with long-haul and ultra-long-haul operations being progressively resumed through alternative routings that avoid restricted airspace, the ministry added.
Air India, IndiGo, SpiceJet, and Akasa Air will run multiple special flights from Gulf cities, including Dubai and Fujairah, multiple reports said. The flights are scheduled to land at airports including New Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Kochi, Ahmedabad and Thiruvananthapuram.
Authorities, however, urged travellers not to proceed to Dubai International Airport or Al Maktoum International Airport unless they have been contacted directly by their airline with a confirmed departure time.
Dubai airspace is partially open, with only a few commercial flights permitted. Emirates and IndiGo are operating a few flights on Wednesday and posting updates on their websites.
Etihad Airways said scheduled flights from Abu Dhabi remained cancelled and that operations were suspended until 2 pm local time on March 5, adding that some repositioning, cargo, and repatriation flights may operate in coordination with UAE authorities.
Foreign carriers operating between India and the Gulf region are also undertaking limited operations, subject to operational and airspace considerations.
“Passenger safety remains paramount. All airlines have been advised to maintain transparent communication with passengers and ensure adherence to regulatory requirements concerning refunds, rescheduling, and passenger assistance,” the ministry said.
The Ministry is in continuous touch with airlines and is closely monitoring airfares to ensure that there is no undue surge in ticket prices during this period, it added.
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Caption: Indian citizens returning from Riyadh arrive at Terminal 2 of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport amid the ongoing conflict situation in the Middle East, in the Mumbai district of Maharashtra, Tuesday, March 3, 2026. (Photo: IANS)
—IANS
