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India Resumes Flights to Riyadh, Monitors West Asia Air Travel Situation

The Ministry of Civil Aviation is closely monitoring the air travel situation in West Asia and its impact on India. Indian carriers have resumed flight operations to and from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, beginning March 12. During a recent period, over 150,000 air passengers traveled from Gulf countries to India. The Ministry is coordinating with airlines to ensure smooth passenger movement and reasonable airfares.

Key Points: India Resumes Riyadh Flights, Monitors West Asia Air Travel

  • Flights to Riyadh resumed March 12
  • Over 150,000 passengers from Gulf to India
  • 57 inbound flights scheduled from West Asia
  • Ministry monitoring airfares for surges
2 min read

MoCA closely monitoring air travel situation in West Asia: Indian carriers resume flights to Riyadh

Indian carriers resume flights to Riyadh as MoCA monitors West Asia situation. Over 150k passengers traveled from Gulf to India recently.

"The Ministry of Civil Aviation is closely monitoring the evolving situation in the West Asia region - Official Statement"

New Delhi, March 12

The Ministry of Civil Aviation is closely monitoring the evolving situation in the West Asia region and its impact on air travel between India and countries in the region. Airlines are undertaking necessary operational adjustments in view of the prevailing conditions to ensure passenger safety and the orderly conduct of flight operations.

According to an official statement from MoCA, in this context, flight operations by Indian carriers to/from Riyadh have resumed from March 12, 2026. On the first day of resumption, three services are being operated to Mumbai by Air India and IndiGo, and one service to Calicut by Air India Express, thereby restoring important air connectivity between India and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

During the period February 28 to March 11 2026, a total of 1,50,457 air passengers travelled from the Gulf countries to India.

Further, Indian carriers have scheduled 57 inbound flights on March 12, 2026, from various cities in West Asia, including Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Fujairah, Jeddah, Muscat, Ras Al Khaimah, Riyadh and Sharjah, subject to operational feasibility and prevailing conditions, a release stated.

The Ministry is maintaining close coordination with airlines and other concerned stakeholders to facilitate smooth passenger movement. Airfares are also being closely monitored to ensure that ticket prices remain reasonable and that there is no undue surge during this period.

Passengers are advised to remain in contact with their respective airlines for the latest updates regarding flight schedules and travel arrangements.

The Ministry will continue to review the situation and provide further updates as necessary, a release added.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
Good to see the Ministry is monitoring airfares. During such disruptions, some airlines and agents hike prices unfairly. My brother is in Dubai and was worried about ticket prices for his return next month. This oversight is necessary.
S
Sarah B
While the resumption is welcome, the communication from the airlines themselves could be better. My flight was cancelled last week with very short notice. Passengers need real-time updates, not just advisories to "remain in contact."
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Vikram M
1.5 lakh passengers in that short period! Shows the sheer volume of travel between India and the Gulf. Our economy is deeply connected. Government handling seems proactive. Jai Hind.
A
Ananya R
Safety first, always. It's good they paused operations when needed and are resuming cautiously. My uncle works in Riyadh, and the family was anxious. Hope the 57 inbound flights today all land safely.
K
Karthik V
Direct flight to Calicut is a relief for the Malayali community. A large number of Keralites work in Saudi. This connectivity is not just about travel, it's a lifeline. Hope they add more flights to Kochi and Trivandrum soon.

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