58 flights scheduled for Middle East as Indian airlines gradually restore services

Over 1,600 flights operated by Indian and foreign airlines have been cancelled so far due to the evolving airspace situation in parts of West Asia, the civil aviation ministry said on Tuesday, as carriers gradually resumed some long-haul services through alternative routes.

According to the Ministry of Civil Aviation, 1,221 flights operated by Indian carriers and 388 flights by foreign airlines have been cancelled amid the disruption.

The ministry said airlines have started progressively restoring long-haul and ultra long-haul operations by using alternative routings that avoid restricted airspace.

“Special arrangements are being made to facilitate the movement of stranded passengers,” the ministry said in a statement late Tuesday.

It said that airlines are deploying additional capacity and coordinating with foreign aviation authorities and Indian missions abroad.

Indian carriers operated 24 flights on Tuesday, while Gulf-based airlines Emirates and Etihad operated nine flights to India in the past 24 hours.

Airlines are planning to ramp up operations further on Wednesday with 58 flights scheduled, including 30 by IndiGo and 23 by Air India and Air India Express, the ministry said.

IndiGo said it has begun progressively reinstating select flights as part of a carefully planned restoration of its schedule.

“We understand how the ongoing situation has impacted travel plans… We are progressively reinstating select flights as part of a carefully planned restoration of our schedule, with safety as our highest priority,” the airline said in a post on X.

The carrier said services to destinations such as Athens, Muscat, Jeddah and Madinah are among the routes being restored depending on prevailing airspace conditions, while additional repatriation flights from the UAE are also being planned subject to slots and permits.

Foreign airlines operating between India and the Gulf region are also conducting limited operations depending on operational and airspace conditions.

The ministry said it is closely monitoring airfares to ensure that there is no undue surge in ticket prices during the disruption.

“Passenger safety remains paramount,” the ministry said. “All airlines have been advised to maintain transparent communication with passengers and ensure adherence to regulatory requirements concerning refunds, rescheduling, and passenger assistance.”

Passengers have also been advised to check flight status with their airlines before heading to airports and rely on official sources for updates.

The ministry said it is coordinating with airlines, airport operators, regulators and the Ministry of External Affairs to ensure safe operations and facilitate affected passengers as services are gradually restored.