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India Launches 58 Rescue Flights from Gulf Amid Middle East Airspace Crisis

Indian carriers are operating 58 special flights on March 4th to repatriate passengers stranded in the Middle East due to airspace closures from escalating regional conflict. The flights, operated by IndiGo, Air India, and others, will depart from cities like Dubai and Fujairah and land across six major Indian airports. Authorities have urged passengers not to proceed to Dubai airports unless they have a confirmed departure time from their airline. The Civil Aviation Ministry is monitoring the situation closely, prioritizing passenger safety and ensuring airlines maintain transparent communication and fair pricing.

Key Points: India Operates 58 Flights from Gulf as Middle East Airspace Closed

  • 58 flights planned for March 4
  • Airspace closures due to US-Israel-Iran conflict
  • Flights to land in 6 Indian cities
  • Airlines advised on transparent communication
2 min read

India to operate 58 flights from Gulf cities as Middle East airspace remains closed

Indian carriers operate 58 special flights to repatriate stranded passengers from Gulf cities as regional airspace remains restricted due to conflict.

"Passenger safety remains paramount. - Civil Aviation Ministry"

Mumbai, March 4

Indian carriers have taken initiatives to operate 58 flights on Wednesday to repatriate passengers stranded in the Middle East, even as most regional airspace remained closed or restricted amid escalating conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran.

"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 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.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
Good move, but the authorities must ensure airlines don't charge exorbitant fares for these "special flights". The ministry monitoring prices is crucial. Hope they take strict action against any price gouging.
A
Aman W
Safety first! It's wise to avoid the restricted airspace even if it means longer routes. Better to reach home a few hours late than not at all. Kudos to the pilots and crew operating in these conditions. 🙏
S
Sarah B
The communication part is key. My friend is there and the information from the airline's website has been confusing. Hope they follow the ministry's advice on transparent updates.
V
Vikram M
So many flights landing in South Indian airports like Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram shows how many of our people work in the Gulf. Salute to their hard work. Hope everyone gets home safe.
K
Karthik V
While the effort is commendable, I hope this is a well-coordinated operation and not a rushed one. The last thing we need is chaos at the airports. The advisory for people not to proceed without confirmation is very important.

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