Indian Carriers Gear Up Amid West Asia Turmoil
As the US–Israel–Iran conflict enters its sixth day, Indian airlines are racing to restore connectivity with the Middle East, launching special relief flights to bring home stranded passengers. The crisis, triggered by February 28 strikes that killed Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, has led to sweeping airspace closures across the Gulf. For India—with 8 to 10 million expatriates in the region—the stakes are immense.
Scale of Flight Disruptions
Since the outbreak of hostilities, more than 1,117 flights have been cancelled across the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Oman. Major corridors over Iran and Iraq remain high-risk, forcing carriers to suspend or reroute operations.
Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways operated 15 relief flights to ease congestion, including four services to Indian cities—Delhi, Mumbai, Kochi, and Bengaluru. These measures have provided partial relief, but demand continues to far outstrip supply as uncertainty lingers.
IndiGo’s Coordinated Push
India’s largest airline, IndiGo, scheduled 10 special flights on March 3 from Jeddah to Hyderabad, Mumbai, Delhi, and Ahmedabad. The airline coordinated closely with the Indian Consulate in Jeddah to identify stranded workers and prioritize urgent cases.
Subject to airspace permissions and regulatory approvals, IndiGo is considering additional charters as demand surges. The focus remains on blue-collar workers and families facing job insecurity and safety concerns.
SpiceJet and Air India Step In
SpiceJet deployed four special flights from Fujairah in the UAE on March 3—two to Mumbai and one each to Delhi and Kochi. Scheduled Fujairah–Delhi and Fujairah–Mumbai services are set to resume from March 4, signaling cautious normalization.
Meanwhile, Air India temporarily suspended several Middle East routes but plans to resume Jeddah services on March 4 using Boeing 777 aircraft with 342 seats. The airline is also preparing wide-body charters to Muscat to accommodate UAE-stranded passengers. India’s aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), continues to monitor airspace safety and has urged airlines to boost capacity where feasible.
How the Government Is Coordinating Evacuations
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) is leading the evacuation framework through embassies and consulates in Jeddah, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha, and Muscat. Missions are registering stranded nationals, compiling passenger manifests, and prioritizing vulnerable groups such as workers and families.
Flight proposals from airlines are vetted by the DGCA and Ministry of Civil Aviation for safety and route viability. Approvals are granted only after assessing evolving security risks. Coordination with Gulf governments secures airport slots and overflight permissions—critical in a conflict zone.
At the strategic level, the Cabinet Committee on Security, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, reviews contingency plans, including potential sea evacuations via Oman if air corridors close completely. Diplomatic outreach, including Modi’s conversation with Abdullah II of Jordan, aims to safeguard regional stability and the Indian diaspora.
Crisis Management Under Pressure
The coordinated response by airlines and the government reflects India’s growing crisis-management capacity in volatile regions. Relief flights are not merely logistical operations—they are lifelines for millions whose livelihoods depend on Gulf stability. While full restoration of normal air traffic hinges on de-escalation, India’s swift mobilization underscores its dual priorities: protecting its diaspora and preserving strategic autonomy amid a widening geopolitical storm.
(With agency inputs)
