Air India Group Expands Flight Services Amid Middle East Tensions

In response to ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, Air India Group has announced the operation of 24 scheduled and non-scheduled flights to the West Asia region. This strategic move aims to provide enhanced travel options for passengers as many routes remain suspended. The airline will operate these flights in collaboration with its low-cost subsidiary, Air India Express, ensuring connectivity to key destinations like Jeddah and Muscat. Additionally, flexible rebooking and refund options are available for affected travelers. This initiative reflects the airline's commitment to adapting to the changing travel landscape while prioritizing passenger convenience.

By Narendra Chaudhary Mar 24, 2026, 09:54 IST

Airline's Strategic Move in Response to Regional Instability

In light of ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, Air India Group has taken a significant step to enhance passenger convenience. The airline has announced the operation of 24 scheduled and non-scheduled flights to the West Asia region. This decision comes at a time when many air routes in the area are currently suspended due to instability.

Joint Operations with Air India Express

According to a press release, the services will be jointly operated by Air India and its low-cost subsidiary, Air India Express. The latter will provide additional non-scheduled services to the United Arab Emirates, along with regular flights to Jeddah and Muscat starting Tuesday.

Flight Operations to Jeddah

Both carriers will continue to operate their scheduled flights to and from Jeddah, facilitating a total of ten round trips between India and Saudi Arabia. Air India plans to run one return service from Delhi and two from Mumbai, while Air India Express will operate one flight each from Hyderabad and Kozhikode. Additionally, the budget airline will offer four scheduled flights from Delhi and Mumbai to Muscat.

Plans for Additional Non-Scheduled Flights to UAE

The group has announced ten non-scheduled flights to UAE routes, contingent on slot availability and local conditions. Currently, there are no regular scheduled flights to Dubai, but both airlines are providing ad-hoc services to Delhi. In Abu Dhabi, only Air India Express is operating ad-hoc flights to Delhi, Kozhikode, and Mumbai. Notably, all flights to Ras Al Khaimah, Sharjah, and Al Ain have been suspended.

Operational Status to Other Gulf Destinations

In Oman, regular services to Muscat are ongoing, while all flights to Salalah have been halted. In Saudi Arabia, scheduled operations in Jeddah remain active, but all flights to Riyadh and Dammam are suspended. There are no scheduled or ad-hoc services to Bahrain, Doha, Kuwait City, or Tel Aviv. The airline clarified that all long-haul flights operated by Air India to North America, Europe, Australia, and other global destinations continue as per the regular schedule.

Flexible Rebooking and Refund Options for Passengers

Passengers who booked on suspended routes can rebook their travel for a later date without incurring additional costs or opt for a full refund. Air India customers can submit rebooking or cancellation requests through the official website or contact the 24/7 customer service numbers. For Air India Express passengers traveling from UAE, they can rebook on any available commercial flight to India without extra charges. Bookings can also be managed via WhatsApp through the AI-powered digital assistant 'Tia'. The Air India Group stated that it is assessing opportunities to operate more ad-hoc flights to and from West Asia, subject to regulatory approval and operational feasibility.