Impact of West Asia Tensions on Air Travel
Flight operations are facing significant disruptions due to escalating tensions in West Asia. On March 13, Indian airlines, including Air India and Air India Express, announced plans to operate 78 flights connecting the UAE and West Asia. In addition to their regular services to Jeddah and Muscat, these airlines will also run several non-scheduled flights across the UAE and Saudi Arabia to meet passenger demand. Authorities in Dubai have indicated that the airport is operating under modified schedules, with airlines gradually resuming services while adhering to strict safety measures. Reports confirm that operations at both Dubai International Airport and Al Maktoum International Airport are ongoing, albeit not at full capacity. Passengers are advised to avoid heading to the airport without a confirmed booking, as flight schedules remain unpredictable. Dubai Airports previously reported that over 1,140 flights were managed within 84 hours to restore connectivity and assist stranded travelers.
Air India and Air India Express Flight Schedule for March 13
Air India and Air India Express Flights For Gulf on March 13 - Full List
Scheduled services: Air India is operating one round-trip flight each from Delhi and Mumbai to Jeddah, while Air India Express is providing one round-trip service from Hyderabad. For Muscat, Air India Express continues its scheduled flights from Delhi, Kannur, Kochi, Kozhikode, Mumbai, and Thiruvananthapuram. In total, the airlines are offering six flights to and from Jeddah and twelve services to and from Muscat.
Non-scheduled and special flights: Both Air India and Air India Express will operate one special round-trip flight each to Riyadh from Mumbai and Kozhikode. Additionally, around 60 non-scheduled flights are anticipated to operate between India and the UAE and Saudi Arabia, subject to slot availability and regulatory approvals.
Ad-hoc flights are being conducted to various Indian cities from Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Ras Al Khaimah, and Sharjah by Air India and Air India Express. No flights are currently scheduled from Al Ain.
Saudi Arabia operations: Flights to Jeddah are operating as per the scheduled services, while Riyadh will only be served through special non-scheduled flights by the two carriers. Currently, no flights are available to Dammam.
Other destinations: Operations to Salalah, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, and Israel are limited or suspended. However, flights to North America, Europe, Australia, and other global destinations continue as per regular schedules.
Reduced Schedules by Gulf Airlines
Gulf Airlines Operating Reduced Schedules
Major airlines in the UAE have adjusted their schedules as they gradually resume services. Emirates, based in Dubai, is operating a reduced flight schedule, focusing on passengers whose travel plans have been affected by the regional tensions. The airline has advised travelers to verify their flight status through official channels before heading to the airport.
Etihad Airways has also released an updated schedule valid through March 15, stating that it is working to accommodate affected passengers and has introduced flexible rebooking and refund options. Flights from Abu Dhabi are operating to several major destinations, including London, New York, Paris, and Indian cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Ahmedabad. Budget airline flydubai is currently running limited flights, while passengers booked between February 28 and March 31 have the option to rebook to the same destination within 30 days. Similarly, Air Arabia is operating restricted services from Sharjah, Abu Dhabi, and Ras Al Khaimah to select destinations until March 22. Current routes include cities such as Vienna, Chittagong, Dhaka, Cairo, Athens, Milan-Bergamo, Amman, Nairobi, Islamabad, Karachi, and Bangkok.