Indian airlines have begun a cautious and phased resumption of operations between India and West Asian destinations after widespread cancellations triggered by the escalating conflict involving the US, Israel and Iran. The Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) has reported that over 1,600 flights including 1,221 flights by Indian carriers and 388 by foreign operators have been cancelled since the crisis began, leaving thousands of passengers stranded in the region and across international networks.
Despite ongoing airspace restrictions and safety concerns, Indian carriers such as Air India, IndiGo, Air India Express, SpiceJet and Akasa Air have been operating relief and special repatriation flights. On Tuesday, about 33 flights successfully connected India with Gulf destinations including Dubai, Muscat and Jeddah, and carriers plan to operate 58 more flights on Wednesday to bring home affected passengers.
Foreign airlines like Emirates and Etihad have also flown limited repatriation services, although operations by Gulf carriers remain at reduced capacity due to continuing airspace closures.
Officials from MoCA and airport operators stress that passenger safety remains paramount and that flight schedules are being adapted in real time in response to evolving airspace conditions. The government is also closely monitoring airfare movements to prevent undue price surges for travellers seeking to return home.
Flight Cancellations and Limited Resumptions
The conflict has significantly disrupted international air travel across the Middle East a strategic aviation corridor linking Asia with Europe, Africa and the Americas. Indian airports reported large numbers of cancelled flights on Tuesday: around 80 international services at Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi, over 100 at Mumbai, and dozens more at Bengaluru and Chennai, as airlines pulled back operations amid safety advisories and acute airspace uncertainty.
A MoCA statement said that Indian carriers operated 24 flights on Tuesday to facilitate the movement of passengers stranded in the Gulf, and are planning to operate 58 flights across Wednesday, primarily comprising reprieve and repatriation services. IndiGo is slated to run roughly 30 of these flights, while Air India and Air India Express will operate around 23, focusing on Gulf destinations with relatively open airspace, mainly Oman and Saudi Arabia.
In a notable development, Air India Express has resumed direct flights on the Mangaluru-Muscat route, carrying returning Indian expatriates in both directions after months of suspension due to the conflict. The first such service carried 147 passengers to Muscat and 162 passengers back to Mangaluru, reflecting demand from large expatriate populations in Oman. Local officials highlighted the importance of the route for coastal Karnataka’s workforce, especially given limited alternatives when Gulf airspace restrictions tightened.
Air India also brought 149 passengers from Dubai to New Delhi in a repatriation flight a rare return service amid the heightened tensions underscoring broader efforts to bring home Indians stranded abroad.
Global Aviation Disruption and Airspace Closures
The latest disruptions originate from a major escalation in hostilities between the US, Israel and Iran that began in late February, including missile and drone strikes targeting civilian infrastructure at key Middle East airports such as Dubai International one of the world’s busiest hubs.
These strikes and subsequent retaliations have prompted temporary or sustained airspace closures in countries across the region, including Syria, Qatar, Iraq, Kuwait and parts of the UAE, leading to tens of thousands of flight cancellations worldwide.
International flight tracking and aviation data platforms report that global flight cancellations have soared, in some cases exceeding 25,000 impacted services, with major carriers around the world withdrawing operations to the region until at least March 5. Gulf carriers like Emirates, Qatar Airways and Etihad have scaled back or paused regular services, focusing instead on repatriation and cargo operations where feasible.
In India’s case, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) issued advisories to airlines to avoid high‑risk zones and follow detailed safety protocols, which resulted in widespread suspensions of flights to destinations like Abu Dhabi, Doha, Riyadh, Jeddah and Tel Aviv in the early days of the conflict. This proactive stance, while disruptive in the short term, reflects aviation‑industry caution in conflict‑affected airspace.
The cancellations have had ripple effects on passengers worldwide from steep fare increases on alternative long‑haul routes to extended layovers, crew‑rest complications and the operational strain of rerouting aircraft around closed airspace. Analysts suggest that the sustained closure of major Gulf flight corridors may lead to lasting changes in route planning and global airline strategies, at least until the conflict subsides.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
While the resumption of flights by Indian carriers offers relief to stranded passengers and families waiting for their return, the broader context of these disruptions highlights a painful truth: geopolitical conflicts have cascading human consequences that extend well beyond the battlefield. Thousands of travellers including migrant workers, students and tourists have faced prolonged uncertainty, logistical hurdles and financial stress through no fault of their own.
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