India’s major carriers Air India and IndiGo will operate special flights to and from several destinations in the Middle East on Wednesday, March 11, as disruptions to regular aviation routes continue due to the ongoing military confrontation involving the US–Israel alliance and Iran.

Airlines plan additional operations

According to operational plans, the Air India group will operate 58 flights to and from West Asia, while IndiGo will run services to eight destinations across the Middle East.

Air India said it will run 36 ad hoc non-scheduled flights to and from the United Arab Emirates, depending on slot availability and prevailing conditions at departure airports.

"These flights are being operated with the requisite permissions from the relevant Indian and local regulatory authorities,” the airline group said in a statement.

Click here to check Air India's operational plan.

Air India will operate one round-trip flight each from Delhi and Mumbai to Jeddah. Meanwhile, Air India Express will run one round-trip each from Hyderabad and Kozhikode to Jeddah.

Air India Express will also continue scheduled operations to Muscat, including one round-trip each from Delhi, Mumbai, Kannur, Thiruvananthapuram and Tiruchirappalli, along with two round-trips from Kochi.

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IndiGo, on its part, confirmed it will operate flights to eight Middle East destinations on March 11, along with select routes to Europe.

Government monitoring the situation

India’s Ministry of Civil Aviation said it is closely monitoring developments in West Asia and assessing their potential impact on air travel between India and the region.

The ministry added that airlines are making operational adjustments to ensure passenger safety while maintaining continuity of services.

Also Read | IndiGo begins gradual restoration of Middle East and Europe flight network amid volatile regional conditions

The development comes as India’s aviation ministry said domestic carriers have requested operational flexibility to facilitate safe passenger movement and support evacuation efforts if needed. According to the ministry, Indian airlines operated 45 inbound flights from West Asia on March 9, bringing back 7,047 passengers, PTI reported.

The ministry also noted that the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has coordinated with relevant authorities to facilitate additional arrival and departure slots.

Authorities have also permitted the use of Muscat International Airport as an alternate stop for flights travelling to and from destinations such as Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah, Al Ain, Fujairah, Jeddah and Medina, helping airlines manage route disruptions caused by the evolving regional situation.