Middle East tensions: Indian airlines to operate 58 flights today for stranded passengers

New Delhi: With efforts underway to bring back stranded passengers, Indian carriers are planning to operate 58 flights on March 4, including 30 by IndiGo and 23 by Air India and Air India Express, the Ministry of Civil Aviation said Tuesday. The ministry said special arrangements are being made to facilitate passenger movement, with airlines deploying additional capacity and coordinating closely with foreign aviation authorities and Indian missions abroad.

The ministry said it is continuously monitoring the evolving airspace situation in parts of West Asia and its impact on international operations. So far, 1,221 flights by Indian carriers and 388 by foreign airlines have been cancelled due to the ongoing disruptions.

Indian airlines have undertaken calibrated schedule adjustments, with long-haul and ultra long-haul services gradually resuming through alternative routings that avoid restricted airspace. At present, Indian carriers are operating 24 flights, while Emirates and Etihad together operated nine flights from the Gulf in the past 24 hours.

Foreign airlines operating between India and the Gulf region are also running limited services, subject to operational and airspace considerations.

Emphasising that passenger safety remains paramount, the ministry has advised all airlines to maintain transparent communication regarding refunds, rescheduling and passenger assistance. It added that it is closely monitoring airfares to ensure there is no undue surge in ticket prices.

Passengers have been urged to check the latest flight status directly with their respective airlines before proceeding to the airport and to rely only on official sources for updates. The ministry said it remains in close coordination with airlines, airport operators, regulators and the Ministry of External Affairs to ensure safe operations and the orderly restoration of services.