Amid the ongoing conflict in West Asia, flight operations are slowly getting back on track.
Airlines had reduced services due to safety concerns, but now they are restarting flights in a phased manner.
Air India, Air India Express, and IndiGo have all announced the resumption of flights to Dubai.
Air India and Air India Express together plan to operate 48 flights to West Asia on March 19.
This includes:
16 regular flights
32 special flights
Many of these services will also cover Dubai routes, offering relief to passengers who were waiting to travel.
IndiGo Restarts Services With Safety Measures
IndiGo has confirmed that its Dubai flights resumed from 4:00 PM local time on March 18, following new guidelines issued by the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority.
Passengers are advised to:
Check flight status before heading to the airport
Use the airline’s help desk for any assistance
The airline has made it clear that passenger and crew safety remains its top priority.
The situation is still being closely monitored.
Akasa Air Resumes Select Routes
Akasa Air has also restarted some of its international services after reviewing the current security situation.
Here’s what’s resumed and what’s not:
Resumed routes:
Riyadh to Mumbai
Jeddah to Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Mumbai, Kochi, and Kozhikode
Still suspended (until March 21):
Abu Dhabi
Doha
Kuwait
Flight disruptions began due to airspace restrictions linked to tensions between the United States, Israel, and Iran since February 28.
During this period, around 2.6 lakh people have already returned to India from West Asia.
IndiGo Rating Under Watch Amid Rising Concerns
In a separate development, ICRA has placed IndiGo’s long-term rating under watch due to rising risks.
Long-term rating: AA (unchanged, but under watch)
Short-term rating: A1+ (unchanged)
The agency highlighted key concerns:
Ongoing geopolitical tensions in West Asia
Rising crude oil prices
Possible impact on airline operations and finances
This means that while IndiGo remains stable for now, future challenges could affect its performance.
What This Means for Travelers
Flight services are gradually returning, which is good news for passengers.
However, the situation is still uncertain.
If you are planning to travel:
Always check your flight status
Stay updated with airline announcements
Be prepared for last-minute changes
While operations are improving, safety and global conditions will continue to shape how flights operate in the coming days.
