Indian Airlines Mount Relief Operations to Bring Stranded Passengers Home Amid Middle East Crisis

New Delhi, March 2026 : Domestic airlines have stepped up relief operations to bring back passengers stranded in the Middle East as air travel disruptions continue due to the escalating conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran. With airspace closures and flight cancellations affecting thousands of travellers, Indian carriers, in coordination with the government, have arranged special flights to facilitate the safe return of Indian nationals.

According to the Ministry of Civil Aviation, IndiGo has planned to operate 10 special relief flights from Jeddah to India on Tuesday. These flights are aimed at easing congestion and helping stranded passengers return home as quickly as possible amid ongoing uncertainty in the region.

Meanwhile, SpiceJet announced that it will operate four special flights from the United Arab Emirates on March 3 to assist Indian nationals affected by the sudden closure of regional airspace. The airline said these services will operate from Fujairah to Delhi, Mumbai, and Kochi, including two flights bound for Mumbai, to accommodate higher passenger demand.

In addition to these one-time relief services, SpiceJet said it will restore its scheduled commercial flights between Fujairah and Delhi, and between Fujairah and Mumbai, starting March 4. The move is expected to help normalise air connectivity between India and the UAE after days of disruption caused by the regional crisis.

The aviation disruption has been significant. Around 357 flights were cancelled on Monday alone, though flight operations began gradually resuming by the evening, with several stranded Indian aircraft returning to domestic airports. Authorities said the situation remains fluid, with airlines continuing to adjust their schedules in response to security advisories and airspace restrictions.

The government said it is in continuous coordination with airlines, airport operators, regulatory bodies and the Ministry of External Affairs to ensure passenger safety, orderly restoration of services and assistance to those affected. Officials stressed that all decisions are being taken with safety as the top priority.

Indian carriers have undertaken calibrated changes to their operations, particularly for long-haul and ultra long-haul flights. These services are being progressively resumed using alternative routings that avoid restricted or conflict-affected airspace. Aircraft and crew repositioning measures are also underway to stabilise operations as quickly as possible, the Civil Aviation Ministry said.

Special arrangements are being made for stranded passengers, with airlines deploying additional capacity wherever required. Carriers are also coordinating closely with foreign aviation authorities and Indian missions abroad to ensure the safe and orderly movement of travellers.

Foreign airlines operating between India and the Gulf region have also begun limited services, subject to operational feasibility and airspace availability. The government reiterated that passenger safety remains paramount as efforts continue to restore normal air travel amid the ongoing Middle East crisis.

(The content of this article is sourced from a news agency and has not been edited by the Mavericknews30 team.)