Amid the evolving Middle East situation, the government stated its continuous coordination with airlines, airport operators, regulatory authorities, and the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) to ensure safe operations and facilitate affected passengers. A high-level meeting chaired by Civil Aviation Minister Rammohan Naidu reviewed the situation, with attendance from Civil Aviation Secretary Samir Kumar Sinha and senior officials. The Ministry of Civil Aviation is closely monitoring the changing airspace situation in parts of the Middle East and its impact on international flight operations.
Indian carriers have made calibrated adjustments to their schedules, resuming long-haul and ultra long-haul operations through alternative routings to avoid restricted airspace. Measures for aircraft and crew repositioning are in progress to restore operational stability promptly. Special arrangements are being organized to assist stranded passengers, with airlines increasing capacity as needed and coordinating with foreign aviation authorities and Indian missions abroad for orderly passenger movement.
IndiGo has scheduled 10 special relief operations from Jeddah to India on March 3 to facilitate the return of stranded passengers, pending necessary approvals and prevailing airspace conditions. The airline is working closely with the Consulate General of India at Jeddah for passenger facilitation. Foreign carriers operating between India and the Gulf region are also conducting limited operations, considering operational and airspace factors, as mentioned by the ministry.
Ensuring passenger safety as a top priority, the government has advised all airlines to maintain transparent communication with passengers and comply with regulatory requirements regarding refunds, rescheduling, and passenger assistance. Passengers are urged to verify the latest flight status directly with their respective airlines before heading to the airport and to rely on official sources for updates.
