There is an important news for Indians traveling to Gulf countries. Air India Express has extended the ban on its flights to Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates (UAE). The airline has informed that now these flights will remain closed till 11:59 pm on March 2, 2026. This decision has been taken in view of the ongoing tension and security reasons in West Asia. The company has made it clear that the safety of passengers and crew is their first priority.
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What will you get if your ticket is canceled or changed?
If you have already booked tickets to travel to Gulf countries, then the airline has provided some relief options for you. This rule will be applicable to those who booked tickets on or before 28 February 2026 and their journey was to take place till 5 March 2026.
Rescheduling: You can postpone your travel date. No ‘date change fee’ will be charged from you for this.
Cancellation and Refund: If you do not want to travel, you can cancel the ticket. You will get the full amount back through the same medium through which you made the payment.
How to Contact: Passengers can visit the Air India Express website or seek help from their assistant ‘Tia’ (+91 6360012345) on WhatsApp.
Why was this decision taken and what was its impact?
The main reason for this ban is the closure of airspace of countries like Israel, Iran and Iraq. Keeping security in mind, DGCA had also issued an advisory. On March 1 alone, Indian airlines have canceled more than 350 international flights, which includes more than 110 flights of Air India Express alone. Big foreign companies like Emirates and Qatar Airways have also limited their services.