Air India and Air India Express have announced the operation of a total of 30 flights to and from West Asia on March 23. Despite limited services on various routes, both carriers are set to continue their scheduled operations to Jeddah, with a total of 10 flights between India and the Saudi Arabian city. Air India will run one return service each from Delhi and Mumbai, while Air India Express will offer services from Bengaluru, Kozhikode, and Mangaluru.
Apart from Jeddah, Air India Express will also operate four scheduled flights to and from Muscat, including services from Delhi and Mumbai. Additionally, the airline will run four scheduled flights to and from Riyadh from Bengaluru and Kozhikode.
In addition to the scheduled operations, the Air India group will operate 12 non-scheduled flights to and from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Saudi Arabia, subject to slot availability and operational conditions. These flights have received the necessary approvals from Indian and local regulatory authorities. Among the UAE destinations, ad hoc services will be available to Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah.
Air India will operate services between Delhi and Dubai, while Air India Express will connect Delhi and Mumbai with Abu Dhabi, and Mangaluru with Sharjah. The airline has announced the suspension of operations to several destinations, including Ras Al Khaimah and Al Ain in the UAE, Salalah in Oman, Dammam in Saudi Arabia, and Bahrain, Doha, Kuwait, and Tel Aviv.
Meanwhile, flights to and from North America, Europe, Australia, and other regions by Air India will continue to operate as scheduled. Passengers affected by the temporary suspension of services have been given the option to re-book their travel at no extra charge or receive a full refund. Air India has advised passengers to utilize its website or customer support centers for assistance.
For Air India Express passengers, especially those traveling from UAE stations, the option to re-book on additional commercial flights without extra charges has been provided. The airline has also facilitated re-booking through its digital assistant on WhatsApp. The airline group is in direct contact with affected passengers and is considering the feasibility of operating additional ad hoc flights to West Asian destinations.
