Air India and AI Express Resume Flights to Middle East as Airspaces Reopen

Air India and Air India Express have resumed flights to the Middle East, with services to Dubai and Muscat. This follows the reopening of airspaces in the region after recent tensions. Iran's missile attack on a US base in Qatar had led to airspace closures, causing flight diversions and cancellations, including those by Indian airlines.

Air India is gradually reinstating its flights to the Middle East, with most operations expected to resume by June 25. The airline has also started reinstating flights to Europe from today. Services to the US East Coast and Canada will resume as soon as possible. Some delays or cancellations may occur due to rerouting, but efforts are being made to minimise disruptions.

Middle East Flights Resume

Air India Express, a major operator in the Middle East, has also begun resuming its services. From Tuesday, flights to Muscat, Riyadh, and Jeddah are operational again. The airline operates approximately 900 flights weekly to 13 cities in the region. Their first resumed flight was on the Delhi–Muscat route, followed by Mumbai–Muscat, Kozhikode–Muscat, Kozhikode–Riyadh, and Jaipur–Jeddah routes.

Flights to key UAE cities such as Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Al Ain, and Ras Al Khaimah are scheduled from Wednesday. IndiGo has reported that its services to Gulf countries have stabilised and are running as planned. However, due to restricted airspace over Iran, some flights may take longer routes, leading to extended travel times.

Operational Challenges and Costs

The closure of airspace in the Middle East has increased operational costs for Indian carriers. Air India is currently using longer routes for flights to Europe and North America due to these closures. Despite these challenges, both Air India and Air India Express are committed to restoring their schedules and minimising passenger inconvenience.

The Tata Group-owned airlines are progressively resuming their operations as conditions improve. Officials confirmed that Air India's Delhi-Dubai flight and Air India Express's Delhi-Muscat service are among those restarted. The airlines aim to restore schedule integrity while adapting to ongoing regional developments.

As airspaces reopen gradually across the Middle East, Indian carriers are working diligently to reinstate their services. While some disruptions may persist due to rerouting needs, efforts continue to ensure smooth operations for passengers travelling between India and the Middle East.

With inputs from PTI