The Aryavarth Express:
New Delhi, March 15: Several Indian airlines, including IndiGo and Air India, issued advisories on Sunday about disruptions to flights operating to the United Arab Emirates, particularly Dubai, due to the evolving crisis in West Asia. The situation has led to operational restrictions and changes in flight schedules across parts of the Middle East.
In a post on X, IndiGo informed passengers that flight operations in Dubai have been further restricted, prompting schedule adjustments. The airline urged travellers flying to or from Dubai to check their flight status before heading to the airport. IndiGo added that passengers are being notified directly with the latest updates.
Air India also announced changes after receiving instructions from UAE airport authorities. The airline said both Air India and its subsidiary, Air India Express, had to curtail several scheduled services on March 15.
According to the airline, Air India will operate only one Delhi–Dubai return flight for the day, while four out of five scheduled flights on the route have been cancelled. Air India Express will also run just one Delhi–Dubai return flight, with five of its six scheduled services to Dubai cancelled.
In Abu Dhabi, all five Air India Express flights scheduled for the day have been cancelled. However, the airline said it plans to continue operations from Sharjah, with flights scheduled to Delhi, Kannur, Kochi, Kozhikode, Mumbai and Thiruvananthapuram.
Additionally, Air India Express stated that services between Ras Al Khaimah and Kozhikode, as well as Ras Al Khaimah and Kochi, are expected to operate, subject to slot availability and prevailing operational conditions.
Passengers affected by the cancellations have been offered the option to rebook for a later date without additional charges or opt for a full refund. The airline apologised for the inconvenience and said it remains committed to bringing stranded passengers home as soon as possible.
The disruptions come amid wider challenges in the aviation sector linked to the escalating situation in West Asia. The crisis has also triggered a sharp increase in aviation turbine fuel prices.
In response, several airlines, including IndiGo, Air India and Akasa Air, have recently introduced fuel surcharges on both domestic and international routes to offset rising operational costs driven by the surge in fuel prices.
