Amidst the ongoing dispute in West Asia, there is news of relief for Indians living in Gulf countries. Civil Aviation Minister K. Ram Mohan Naidu said on Monday that about 90,000 people have traveled to India from the Gulf region in the last one week. Considering the situation, the government and airlines are working together so that people can be brought back safely. DGCA has given strict instructions to ensure 100 percent security for all flights.
What is the status of flight operations and cancellations?
According to government data, about 90 thousand passengers traveled safely between March 2 and 8. On March 9, 50 flights were scheduled from the Gulf to India. Earlier on March 7 and 8, around 100 flights operated smoothly and transported thousands of people to their destinations. However, due to the dispute, 279 flights of Indian Airlines have been canceled so far. Qatar Airways’ services have also been largely affected as Qatari airspace is currently closed.
Have flight ticket prices increased?
The airspace of many countries in West Asia like Iran, Iraq and Israel has been declared high risk. Due to this, flights are being diverted from other routes, increasing both fuel costs and travel time. The insurance cost of airlines has also become expensive by Rs 1 crore. Due to all these reasons, an increase of 10 to 12 percent can be seen in ticket prices. The ministry has instructed the airlines not to increase ticket prices too much and not cause any inconvenience to the common man. Companies like IndiGo have announced to waive fees on ticket cancellation and change till March 31, 2026.
What is the government doing to help the passengers
The Ministry of Civil Aviation has launched Passenger Assistant Control Room (PACR) to assist passengers. More than 1,400 complaints have been resolved so far through the Airseva platform. Flights are continuing from major international hubs like Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Muscat and Sharjah. Minister Ram Mohan Naidu said in the Rajya Sabha that the situation is expected to improve soon so that more people will be able to complete their journey without any hassle.