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Air India Group to Operate 30 Flights to West Asia Amid Limited Services

The Air India group announced it will operate a total of 30 scheduled and non-scheduled flights to and from West Asia. Services include 10 flights to Jeddah and additional operations to Muscat and Riyadh, alongside 12 non-scheduled flights to the UAE and Saudi Arabia. Several destinations, including Doha, Kuwait, and Tel Aviv, will have no scheduled or ad hoc operations. The airlines are offering rebooking and refund options for affected passengers and are exploring additional ad hoc flights.

Key Points: Air India Group Operates 30 Flights to West Asia

  • 30 total flights to West Asia
  • 10 flights to Jeddah
  • 12 non-scheduled flights to UAE & Saudi
  • No operations to several destinations
  • Rebooking and refund options available
3 min read

Air India group to operate 30 flights to West Asia today

Air India and Air India Express to run 30 scheduled and non-scheduled flights to West Asia, with limited routes and rebooking options.

"Air India and Air India Express will together operate 30 scheduled and non-scheduled flights, to and from the West Asia region - Air India Statement"

New Delhi, March 22

Air India and Air India Express will operate a total of 30 scheduled and non-scheduled flights to and from West Asia on Monday, even as services on several routes remain limited, according to an official statement issued by the airline.

Taking to social media platform X, the airline announced, "Air India and Air India Express will together operate 30 scheduled and non-scheduled flights, to and from the West Asia region on 23 March 2026."

Both carriers will continue their scheduled operations to Jeddah, with a total of 10 flights between India and the Saudi Arabian city. Air India will operate one return service each from Delhi and Mumbai, while Air India Express will run services from Bengaluru, Kozhikode and Mangaluru.

Apart from Jeddah, Air India Express will operate four scheduled flights to and from Muscat, including services from Delhi and Mumbai. It will also operate four scheduled flights to and from Riyadh from Bengaluru and Kozhikode.

In addition to scheduled operations, the Air India group will operate 12 non-scheduled flights to and from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Saudi Arabia, subject to slot availability and operational conditions. These flights are being operated with the necessary approvals from the Indian and local regulatory authorities.

Among UAE destinations, ad hoc services will be operated to Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah.

Air India will operate services between Delhi and Dubai, while Air India Express will operate flights connecting Delhi and Mumbai with Abu Dhabi, and Mangaluru with Sharjah.

The airline said there will be no scheduled or ad hoc operations to several destinations, including Ras Al Khaimah and Al Ain in the UAE, Salalah in Oman, Dammam in Saudi Arabia, and Bahrain, Doha, Kuwait and Tel Aviv.

Meanwhile, all Air India flights to and from North America, Europe, Australia and other regions will continue to operate as per schedule.

Passengers booked on routes where scheduled services remain temporarily suspended have been offered the option to re-book travel at no additional charge or opt for a full refund. Air India has advised passengers to use its website or contact its customer support centres for assistance.

Air India Express passengers, particularly those travelling from UAE stations, have been given the option to re-book on additional commercial flights without extra charges. The airline has also enabled re-booking through its digital assistant on WhatsApp.

The airline group said it is reaching out to affected passengers directly and is exploring the possibility of operating additional ad hoc flights to West Asian destinations, depending on operational feasibility.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
My brother is in Dubai and was worried about his flight. This announcement brings some clarity. The WhatsApp option for re-booking is a smart, modern touch. Hope the slot availability improves for the ad-hoc flights.
A
Arjun K
It's a positive step, but 30 flights for the entire region still seems limited. Many families from Kerala and Mangaluru depend on these Gulf routes. Why are services to places like Dammam and Kuwait still suspended? The communication could be more detailed.
S
Sarah B
As someone who travels frequently between Mumbai and Abu Dhabi for work, I appreciate the effort to maintain connectivity. The key will be consistent updates and managing passenger expectations regarding the 'subject to conditions' part.
K
Karthik V
Glad to see flights from tier-2 cities like Kozhikode and Mangaluru are included. The Gulf region is like a second home for so many from the coastal states. Hope the airlines prioritize these routes which are lifelines for remittances.
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Michael C
The operational planning seems sound, splitting between scheduled and ad-hoc flights. It's crucial that other regions (US, Europe) remain unaffected. The customer service response will be the real test now.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

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