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Air India Adds Extra UAE Flights for Stranded Flyers Amid West Asia Airspace Curbs

Air India and Air India Express are operating additional non-scheduled flights to the UAE on March 8 to assist travellers stranded due to airspace restrictions in parts of West Asia. While scheduled services to Jeddah and Muscat continue, flights to several other destinations like Doha and Riyadh remain cancelled until mid-March. Affected passengers are being offered free rebooking or a full refund, with the airlines proactively contacting them. The Air India group is also exploring further ad-hoc flights as needed, while its long-haul services to Europe and North America are operating via alternative safe routes.

Key Points: Air India, AI Express Operate Extra UAE Flights for Stranded Passengers

  • Extra flights to UAE on March 8
  • Scheduled ops to Jeddah, Muscat continue
  • Flights to Doha, Riyadh cancelled until March 10-13
  • Free rebooking or full refund offered
  • Airlines using alternative routes for Europe/US flights
3 min read

Air India, AI Express to operate extra UAE flights on March 8 for stranded flyers amid West Asia conflict

Air India & Air India Express announce additional flights to UAE on March 8 and outline rebooking options for passengers affected by West Asia airspace restrictions.

"These additional flights are primarily intended for stranded travellers, with priority given to passengers who already hold bookings with either airline. - Press Release"

New Delhi, March 8

Air India and Air India Express are continuing scheduled flight operations to select West Asian destinations, while operating additional non-scheduled flights to assist stranded travellers amid ongoing airspace restrictions in parts of the region.

According to the press release, airspace over Saudi Arabia and Oman remains open, allowing the airline to maintain regular services to and from Jeddah and Muscat.

As per the release, Air India is operating scheduled flights connecting Delhi and Mumbai with Jeddah. Meanwhile, Air India Express continues to operate flights linking Muscat with Delhi, Kochi, Kozhikode, Mangaluru, Mumbai and Kannur, along with services connecting Jeddah with Bengaluru, Kozhikode and Mangaluru.

The airlines also announced additional non-scheduled flights on March 8 with approvals from Indian and local authorities to facilitate travellers affected by the regional restrictions. Air India will operate special services between Delhi and Dubai and between Mumbai and Dubai. Air India Express will operate 30 additional flights connecting Indian cities with several destinations in the United Arab Emirates, including Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Ras Al Khaimah and Sharjah.

According to the press release, these additional flights are primarily intended for stranded travellers, with priority given to passengers who already hold bookings with either airline.

Air India Express also confirmed that all its scheduled flights to and from Bahrain, Dammam, Doha, Kuwait and Riyadh remain cancelled until March 13 due to the ongoing restrictions. Air India's scheduled flights to and from Dammam, Doha and Riyadh will remain suspended until March 10.

Passengers booked on cancelled flights can either rebook for a later date without additional charges or opt for a full refund, the release said. The airline has advised affected passengers to submit rebooking or cancellation requests through its official website or contact its 24x7 customer support hotline.

Air India Express passengers travelling from the UAE can also rebook flights at no additional cost on alternate services operating from any UAE city to destinations in India. The airlines said they are proactively contacting affected travellers through registered mobile numbers to provide rebooking options.

Additionally, Air India Express passengers can manage bookings through the airline's AI-powered digital assistant available on WhatsApp. The Air India group said it is exploring opportunities to operate further ad-hoc flights to and from destinations in West Asia as required.

Meanwhile, Air India's flights to Europe, including the United Kingdom, and to North America have been operating on schedule since March 2 through alternative safe routes, with technical stops at Rome or Vienna for flights from India to North America due to extended routing requirements.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
Good initiative, but the communication could be better. My family in Bahrain is still waiting for clear updates. The website crashed when we tried to rebook. Hope they improve the backend support along with adding flights.
A
Aman W
Operating 30 extra flights to UAE is a massive logistical task. Kudos to the ground and air staff working round the clock. Safety first, but bringing our people home is paramount. 🙏
S
Sarah B
It's reassuring to see airlines being proactive during a crisis. The option for rebooking or full refund without charges is the right thing to do. Hope all stranded passengers reach their families safely.
V
Vikram M
The Gulf region has so many Indian workers and professionals. This kind of support during airspace closures is crucial. Glad they are prioritizing existing bookings. Hope the conflict de-escalates soon for everyone's sake.
K
Kavya N
Using WhatsApp for managing bookings is a smart move, very convenient for people who might not be tech-savvy. A little digital *jugaad* goes a long way in stressful times. Well done AI Express!

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