New Delhi: Air travel between India and the United Arab Emirates has started to move again after several days of disruption caused by escalating tensions in parts of the Middle East. Airlines on both sides have begun operating a limited number of flights, offering relief to passengers whose journeys were delayed or cancelled earlier this week.
Major Gulf carriers such as Emirates, Etihad Airways and flydubai have resumed select services to India. Indian airlines, including Air India, IndiGo, SpiceJet and Air India Express, have also restarted some flights to destinations in the Gulf region. For now, however, the number of flights remains lower than usual as airlines continue to monitor the situation.
The disruption began in late February after tensions involving Iran, Israel and the United States led to security concerns across parts of West Asia. Some countries temporarily restricted or adjusted airspace routes, which forced airlines to cancel or reroute flights passing through the region.
As a result, thousands of passengers travelling between India and the Gulf were affected. Many travellers reported last-minute cancellations and long waits for updates from airlines as schedules kept changing.
Airports in the UAE, including Dubai International Airport and Al Maktoum International Airport, have gradually resumed operations. Authorities say services are being restored step by step while airlines work to accommodate passengers who were unable to travel earlier.
In recent days, airlines have also scheduled additional flights to help clear the backlog of stranded travellers. A large number of Indian nationals working in the Gulf were among those affected, given the heavy passenger traffic between the two regions.
Despite the partial resumption of services, aviation authorities have cautioned that flight schedules may still change depending on the evolving security situation in the region. Passengers planning to travel in the coming days have been advised to check with their airlines for the latest updates before heading to the airport.
For now, the gradual return of flights has brought some relief to travellers, though airlines say it may take a little longer before operations between India and the UAE return fully to normal.
