Dubai flight schedules change as worsening Middle East crisis forces Air India, IndiGo to scale down UAE routes

Airlines including IndiGo and Air India on Sunday issued advisories about disruptions to flights between India and the United Arab Emirates as the evolving crisis in West Asia has led to operational restrictions and schedule changes at airports in the region. Several flights to Dubai and other UAE destinations have been cancelled or rescheduled, and passengers have been asked to check their flight status before leaving for the airport.

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IndiGo said flight operations in Dubai are facing additional restrictions due to the situation in the Middle East. In a post on X, the airline said, “Update: Due to the evolving situation in the Middle East, flight operations have been further restricted in Dubai, leading to changes in flight schedules. Customers travelling to/from Dubai are requested to check their flight status before leaving for the airport. We are also sending out notifications to keep customers informed of the latest updates.”


Air India said it has further reduced its operations after instructions from UAE airport authorities. The airline said Air India and its subsidiary Air India Express have curtailed their ad-hoc operations for March 15.

According to the airline, both Air India and Air India Express will now operate only one round trip each on the Delhi–Dubai route. These flights will operate subject to slot availability and prevailing conditions at the time of departure.


Air India Express said all its flights planned for the day to and from Abu Dhabi, Ras Al Khaimah and Sharjah have been cancelled following the operational restrictions.

Passengers affected by the cancellations or temporary suspension of services can rebook their travel for a future date without additional charges or choose to receive a full refund. The airline said it regrets the inconvenience caused by the situation.

Air India said it remains committed to bringing stranded passengers home safely at the earliest possible time.

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The disruptions come as the aviation sector faces wider challenges linked to the West Asia crisis. The situation has also pushed up aviation turbine fuel prices, increasing operating costs for airlines.

In response to rising fuel costs, airlines including IndiGo, Air India and Akasa Air have recently introduced fuel surcharges on domestic and international routes to offset the impact of higher fuel prices