Indian Airlines schedule 58 special flights to Gulf as West Asia airspace disruptions rise

New Delhi: Indian carriers are set to operate 58 flights between India and key destinations in the Gulf region today, as part of efforts to facilitate the movement of stranded passengers affected by the ongoing conflict in parts of West Asia.

According to a statement issued by the Ministry of Civil Aviation, the flights will include 30 services by IndiGo and 23 by Air India and Air India Express. The remaining services are being coordinated in alignment with operational feasibility and airspace availability.

The Ministry said it is closely monitoring the evolving airspace situation across parts of West Asia and assessing its impact on international flight operations on a real-time basis. Since the onset of the disruptions, 1,221 flights operated by Indian carriers and 388 flights by foreign airlines have been cancelled due to airspace restrictions, safety concerns and routing constraints.

Officials noted that airlines have undertaken calibrated adjustments to their schedules, particularly on long-haul and ultra-long-haul routes. These operations are now being progressively resumed using alternative flight paths that avoid restricted or sensitive airspace. Such re-routings, while operationally viable, may involve longer flying times and higher fuel burn, depending on the sector.

ALSO READ: ‘Complete control’: Iran’s Revolutionary Guards claim dominance over Strait of Hormuz

The Ministry further stated that it remains in continuous engagement with airlines and is closely tracking airfares to prevent any undue surge in ticket prices during this period of heightened demand and constrained capacity. Carriers have been advised to maintain transparent communication with passengers and ensure full compliance with regulatory norms related to refunds, rescheduling and passenger facilitation.

Passengers have been urged to verify the latest status of their flights directly with their respective airlines before proceeding to airports and to rely exclusively on official airline and government channels for updates, in order to avoid misinformation.

The present disruption once again underscores the structural vulnerability of India–Gulf air corridors, which form one of the busiest and most commercially critical international aviation networks for Indian carriers. Extended airspace closures not only strain airline scheduling and crew rotations but also increase operating costs due to longer routings and fuel consumption. For Indian aviation, the situation highlights the growing importance of flexible route planning, fuel hedging strategies and stronger diplomatic coordination on airspace access, particularly as Indian airlines continue expanding their long-haul ambitions and fleet induction plans.