MUMBAI / BENGALURU — Air travel between the United Arab Emirates and India began a slow return to normalcy on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, as airlines successfully operated the first set of flights following a weekend of unprecedented chaos. An Emirates flight, EK 500 from Dubai, landed safely at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport on Tuesday morning, bringing relief to hundreds of stranded passengers who had been caught in the crossfire of the escalating conflict between the US, Israel, and Iran.
The resumption comes after a total shutdown of regional airspaces triggered by the February 28 strikes on Iran and subsequent retaliatory drone and missile attacks across several Arab nations. Passengers arriving in Mumbai recounted stories of sudden cancellations and hours of uncertainty. “We were headed to the USA from Dubai, but after seven or eight hours of waiting, we were told war had broken out,” said Ajay, a passenger on the Emirates flight. He praised the airline for providing hotel accommodations and buses for the stranded travellers until the Mumbai route was cleared for departure.
Similar scenes were witnessed at Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport, where the first flight from Abu Dhabi touched down late Monday night. Travelers returning via Etihad Airways noted that the carrier had provided hotel bookings for those whose original flights were grounded. Dubai Airports has confirmed that a limited resumption of operations began on the evening of March 2, with a small number of permitted flights operating out of Dubai International (DXB) and Al Maktoum International (DWC) airports under strict monitoring of regional security conditions.
While the partial resumption provides a lifeline for thousands of Indians eager to return home, officials cautioned that flight schedules remain highly sensitive to the “prevailing airspace conditions.” Thousands of passengers still remain in transit hotels across the UAE, waiting for their rescheduled departures. Airline authorities are working in tight coordination with airport security and international aviation bodies to ensure that the flight corridors remain safe from potential missile or drone activity as the geopolitical situation in West Asia remains volatile.
