New Delhi: Amid ongoing instability in parts of West Asia, Air India and its subsidiary Air India Express have stepped up operations, planning a total of 30 flights on Sunday to maintain connectivity with the region, particularly the United Arab Emirates.
Officials said that out of the total flights, a significant portion—16 services to and from the UAE—will be operated as non-scheduled or ad hoc flights. These additional services are being arranged depending on slot availability and operational conditions at destination airports.
Dubai and Abu Dhabi will be served entirely through these special flights. Services to Dubai will operate from Delhi, while Abu Dhabi will be connected via multiple Indian cities including Delhi, Mumbai, Kozhikode and Mangaluru. Sharjah will also see extra flights linking Amritsar and Kannur. However, no services are planned for Ras Al Khaimah and Al Ain.
In Oman, regular operations will continue on the Muscat route with flights from Delhi and Mumbai, though Salalah will not be serviced on Sunday. Saudi Arabia routes remain active, with scheduled flights connecting Jeddah and Riyadh to several Indian cities, while Dammam will not have any operations.
Meanwhile, services to Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait and Israel—including Tel Aviv—remain suspended due to prevailing security concerns.
The airline clarified that routes to regions outside West Asia, such as North America, Europe and Australia, are operating as per schedule, indicating that disruptions are currently limited to select destinations.
To assist passengers impacted by cancellations, the airline has offered flexible options, including free rescheduling or full refunds. Additionally, Air India Express has allowed travellers flying from UAE airports to switch to alternative flights to India without extra charges.
The move comes as airlines continue to adjust operations in response to evolving geopolitical tensions, aiming to minimise inconvenience while ensuring passenger safety.
