Amidst the increasing tension in West Asia, the work of bringing back Indians is going on at a fast pace. A record 51 flights have been scheduled for Saturday (7 March 2026), the most since February 28. So far, about 15,000 passengers have been brought safely to India. The government and airlines are working together on this mission so that people stranded in Gulf countries can be evacuated quickly.
Latest update on number of flights and rescues
Airlines have significantly increased the number of their flights on Saturday. On Friday, 40 flights had come to India, but today this number has increased to 51. SpiceJet has exclusively operated 14 special flights from UAE, of which 13 are from Fujairah and 1 is from Dubai. This is the largest operation in a day since the air strikes began on February 28.
The Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) and the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) are continuously monitoring the situation. Land routes are now being explored through Armenia and Turkmenistan to evacuate about 9,000 Indians stranded in Iran, because the airspace there is still not safe. There have also been reports of explosions in Dubai and Manama, which has increased the concern a bit.
Huge increase in air fares and expenses of airlines
Due to the war atmosphere, the prices of flight tickets are skyrocketing. The Dubai-Delhi ticket which used to be available for Rs 10 to 15 thousand on normal days has now reached Rs 52,000 to 55,000. Oman Air fares from Muscat to Delhi were seen at Rs 1.22 lakh, while Air India Express tickets were sold for around Rs 44,000.
Flying is also becoming expensive for airlines. Insurance companies have increased the premium amount significantly. The insurance cost for large flights (wide-body aircraft) on the Delhi-Dubai route has increased by Rs 1 crore, while for small flights it has increased by Rs 30-40 lakh.
New guidelines and refund facility for passengers
DGCA has declared 11 areas like Tehran, Tel Aviv and Baghdad as ‘high risk’. Long-haul flights, such as those to New York, are now making technical stops in Rome to avoid dangerous routes. For the convenience of passengers, airlines have given relaxation on ticket cancellation or change.
The relief given by the airlines is as follows:
IndiGo: There will be no charge for cancellation or rescheduling of flights to West Asia and Istanbul till March 31, 2026.
Air India Express: Offering full refund or free rescheduling on bookings made before February 28.
Helpline Number: The Ministry of External Affairs has issued a toll-free number 1800118797 for help.