Air India Group Resumes Key Gulf Routes as Airspace Restrictions Ease
In a significant development for air travel connectivity, India's national carrier Air India and its low-cost subsidiary Air India Express have officially resumed flight operations to and from Jeddah in Saudi Arabia and Muscat in Oman. This resumption follows the reopening of airspace over these two crucial Gulf nations, which aviation authorities have now assessed as safe for commercial operations.
Official Announcement and Safety Assessments
A press release from the airline group dated March 5, 2026, clearly states, "With the airspaces over Saudi Arabia and Oman remaining open and assessed as safe for operations, Air India and Air India Express have resumed services to and from Jeddah and Muscat." This decision comes after comprehensive evaluations by relevant aviation authorities confirmed that previous restrictions had been sufficiently eased to allow for the safe passage of commercial flights.
The partial reopening provides much-needed relief to travelers who faced severe disruptions in the region over recent days. Air India emphasized this point in an official social media post, noting that "...Additional special flights are being operated to support stranded travellers."
Continued Suspensions Across West Asia
Despite this positive development for Jeddah and Muscat routes, the Air India group has announced that services to several other destinations across West Asia will remain suspended for the time being. The ongoing closure of airspace over multiple countries in the region continues to significantly impact flight operations.
According to the official announcement, scheduled services to and from certain West Asian cities will stay suspended until March 10, 2026. The statement reads, "Due to the continuing airspace closures over multiple other countries in the West Asian region, Air India group's scheduled operations to and from other points in West Asia remain suspended until 10 March 2026."
Special Flights for Stranded Passengers
To assist travelers affected by the widespread disruptions, Air India and Air India Express have introduced additional ad-hoc special flights that will operate through March 6. These extra services are specifically designed to help bring stranded passengers back to India from key locations.
The special flights will operate on routes connecting India with:
- Dubai in the United Arab Emirates
- Muscat in Oman
- Ras Al Khaimah in the United Arab Emirates
The airline group confirmed that these operations are being conducted after receiving all necessary approvals from aviation authorities in India, Oman, and the United Arab Emirates. Officials stated that the decision to operate these flights followed thorough evaluations of multiple critical factors, including safety considerations, security conditions, and overall operational feasibility in the region.
Priority Booking and Passenger Assistance
The airline group has clarified that these special flights are primarily intended to assist passengers who were left stranded due to the sudden airspace disruptions. Travellers who already hold confirmed bookings with either Air India or Air India Express will receive priority on these services.
Additionally, the airlines have implemented flexible rebooking policies for affected passengers. Air India guests booked to travel from any point in the West Asia region with tickets issued until March 4, 2026, and originally planned travel between February 28 and March 8, 2026, can conveniently rebook their flights to India on a future date within one month of their originally intended travel date without any additional charges or otherwise applicable fare difference.
Similarly, Air India Express guests booked to travel from any station in the UAE can rebook their flights without additional charges on the airline's additional commercial flights operating from any UAE station to any destination in India.
Ongoing Monitoring and Future Updates
This development occurs as airlines continue to navigate complex airspace restrictions across parts of West Asia, which have forced carriers to suspend or reroute flights in recent days. Air India has committed to continuously reviewing the situation and providing updates as conditions evolve in the region.
Passengers are advised to raise rebooking or cancellation requests through the airline's official website or by contacting the 24x7 customer support hotlines for assistance with their travel plans during this period of operational adjustment.
