Limited flight services between India and parts of the Middle East resumed on Tuesday, even as significant airspace restrictions remained in place with the Iran–US conflict entering its fourth day. A mix of relief and scheduled flights operated under tight limitations, providing some respite to passengers stranded by the disruptions. 

India’s largest airline, IndiGo, will operate 10 special relief flights from Jeddah to four Indian cities on March 3 to bring back passengers stranded amid escalating tensions in the Middle East. According to sources, the flights from Jeddah will connect to Hyderabad, Mumbai, Delhi, and Ahmedabad. 

The Civil Aviation Ministry on Monday said it is closely monitoring the evolving airspace situation across parts of the Middle East and its impact on international flight operations. 

In a statement, the ministry said, “IndiGo has planned 10 special relief operations from Jeddah to India on 3 March, 2026 to facilitate the return of stranded passengers, subject to required approvals and prevailing airspace conditions. IndiGo is coordinating with the Consulate General of India at Jeddah for passenger facilitation.” 

Jeddah, a key Saudi Arabian city, has emerged as a transit point for several affected travellers after widespread flight disruptions in the region. 

SpiceJet has announced it will operate four special flights from Fujairah in the UAE to repatriate passengers stranded due to widespread disruptions in the Middle East. Flight operations across the region have been severely affected following the closure of multiple airspaces amid the escalating conflict involving the US, Israel, and Iran.  

In a statement, the airline said the special services will connect Fujairah with Delhi, Mumbai, and Kochi on Tuesday and over the next few days. Of the four flights, two will operate to Mumbai to accommodate higher passenger demand on the sector. 

Air India Express on Monday announced the resumption of flight operations to and from Muscat starting March 3. The airline will operate scheduled services connecting Muscat with Delhi, Kochi, Kozhikode, Mangaluru, Mumbai, and Tiruchirappalli.  

“The first Air India Express flight from Muscat will operate to Tiruchirappalli, departing at 10:25 hours local time,” a spokesperson said.  

Meanwhile, Akasa Air said that it will operate select services to and from Jeddah on March 3 and March 4 after conducting a comprehensive safety review. However, several of the airline’s other Middle East routes will remain temporarily suspended. 

Airspace closures after Iran strikes 

The disruptions follow attacks on Iran by the United States and Israel that began on February 28, prompting multiple Middle Eastern countries to shut their airspace. The closures triggered massive flight cancellations, leaving passengers stranded across several cities. 

The ministry said Indian airlines have undertaken calibrated schedule adjustments, with long-haul and ultra-long-haul operations gradually resuming via alternative routes that avoid restricted airspace. 

“Aircraft and crew repositioning measures are underway to restore operational stability at the earliest,” it added. 

The situation was reviewed at a high-level meeting chaired by Civil Aviation Minister K. Rammohan Naidu on Monday. 

Special measures for stranded passengers 

The ministry said special arrangements are being made to facilitate the movement of stranded passengers. Airlines are deploying additional capacity where required and coordinating closely with foreign aviation authorities and Indian missions abroad to ensure safe and orderly travel. 

Foreign carriers operating between India and the Gulf region are also conducting limited operations, subject to airspace and operational considerations. 

Airlines have been advised to maintain transparent communication with passengers and adhere strictly to regulatory requirements related to refunds, rescheduling, and passenger assistance. 

The ministry said it continues to coordinate with airlines, airport operators, regulatory authorities, and the external affairs ministry to ensure safe operations and orderly restoration of services. 

Dubai airports begin limited resumption 

Meanwhile, Dubai’s aviation sector has begun a cautious return to operations. Dubai Airports confirmed a limited resumption of flights from Dubai International Airport and Al Maktoum International Airport from March 2. 

The airport operator said a small number of flights would operate from the evening and urged travellers not to proceed to the airport unless contacted directly by their airline with a confirmed departure time. 

Emirates also announced it would operate a restricted schedule starting the evening of March 2, prioritising passengers with prior bookings and those rebooked on limited services.