New Delhi: In response to fluctuating conditions in the West Asia region, Air India Group has announced plans to operate 30 scheduled and non-scheduled flights on Monday, with a notable reduction in ad hoc services compared to previous days. Of these, 10 flights will be non-scheduled, primarily to and from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), marking a further dip in ad hoc operations. These flights will be subject to regulatory approvals and slot availability from both Indian and UAE authorities.
Air India’s non-scheduled services will continue to operate to key UAE cities including Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah, with specific connections such as a Delhi-Dubai service by Air India and Air India Express flights between Mangalore and Dubai. Additionally, limited Air India Express flights will run between Delhi and Abu Dhabi, and between Amritsar, Kannur, and Sharjah.
After a recent suspension of services, Ras Al Khaimah has been opened for ad hoc flights, although no specific routes have been listed yet. Meanwhile, Al Ain remains without services.
In Oman, Air India Express will continue operating on the Muscat route from multiple cities, including Delhi, Kannur, Mumbai, and Thiruvananthapuram. However, flights to Salalah remain suspended.
Saudi Arabia will see some continuity in operations, with scheduled flights from Delhi and Mumbai to Jeddah, and Air India Express connecting Bengaluru, Kozhikode, and Mangalore to the kingdom. Scheduled services to Riyadh will continue, but the Dammam route remains off the network.
Other destinations including Bahrain, Doha, Kuwait, and Tel Aviv will continue to have suspended services, further tightening the airline’s network in the region.
Despite the challenges in West Asia, Air India confirmed that its long-haul services to North America, Europe, and Australia remain unaffected and will operate as scheduled. The airline also reassured passengers that any affected by cancellations would be offered free rebooking or full refunds. Air India Express has extended flexibility to UAE-bound passengers, allowing them to shift to alternative flights within the network without additional charges.
The airline group has been actively reaching out to affected passengers using their registered contact details to facilitate rebooking, and is working on securing additional ad hoc flights as approvals come through.
IndiGo has also announced plans to operate select flights to and from the Middle East on April 6, with its schedule being updated regularly in coordination with relevant authorities. Passengers have been urged to check flight statuses before arriving at the airport and to ensure their contact information is up-to-date for timely notifications, as airlines continue to navigate the dynamic situation in West Asia airspace.
