New Delhi, March 4 (IANS). Much of the airspace in the Middle East is closed or restricted due to the escalating conflict between the US, Israel and Iran. In such a situation, Indian airlines have taken the initiative to operate 58 flights on Wednesday to bring back the stranded passengers.
The Civil Aviation Ministry said that a total of 58 flights are planned to be operated on March 4, of which 30 flights will be operated by IndiGo and 23 flights will be operated by Air India and Air India Express. Foreign airlines flying between India and the Gulf region are also operating limited operations, dependent on airspace and operating conditions.
The ministry said that Indian airlines have made balanced changes in their schedules. Long and ultra-long haul flights are being gradually resumed via alternative routes avoiding restricted airspace.
According to reports, Air India, IndiGo, SpiceJet and Akasa Air will operate several special flights from Gulf cities like Dubai and Fujairah. These flights will land at Indian airports like New Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Kochi, Ahmedabad and Thiruvananthapuram.
However, officials have appealed to passengers not to travel to Dubai International Airport or Al Maktoum International Airport until they receive confirmed departure times from the respective airlines.
Dubai’s airspace is partially open, and only a few commercial flights are allowed. Emirates and IndiGo are operating limited flights and are giving frequent updates on their websites.
Etihad Airways said scheduled flights from Abu Dhabi are canceled and operations will remain suspended until 2pm (local time) on March 5. However, some cargo and repatriation flights may be operated in coordination with UAE authorities.
Foreign airlines operating flights between India and the Gulf region are also offering limited services depending on operations and airspace conditions.
“Safety of passengers is the top priority. All airlines have been directed to maintain transparent communication with passengers and ensure compliance with rules related to refunds, rescheduling and other assistance,” the Civil Aviation Ministry said.
The ministry also said that it is in constant touch with the airlines and keeping an eye on the air fares so that there is no unnecessary increase in ticket prices during this period.
–IANS
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