New Delhi: Even as the war continues to spread in the Middle East, limited commercial flight operations are underway between India and the Gulf countries to enable more and more stranded passengers to reach their destinations.
As part of this, IndiGo has planned 10 special relief operations from Saudi capital Jeddah to India on March 3 to facilitate the return of stranded passengers, subject to required approvals and prevailing airspace conditions, the Indian Civil Aviation Ministry said.
After a high-level review meeting, the ministry said it is “closely monitoring the evolving airspace situation in parts of the Middle East and its impact on international flight operations.”
In a statement, it said Indian carriers have undertaken calibrated adjustments to their schedules, with long-haul and ultra long-haul operations being progressively resumed through alternative routings that avoid restricted airspace.
Aircraft and crew repositioning measures are underway to restore operational stability at the earliest, the statement said.
Special arrangements are being made to facilitate the movement of stranded passengers, the ministry added.
Airlines are deploying additional capacity where required and coordinating closely with foreign aviation authorities and Indian missions abroad to ensure safe and orderly passenger movement, it said.
Foreign carriers operating between India and the Gulf region are also undertaking limited operations, subject to operational and airspace considerations, it said.
“All airlines have been advised to maintain transparent communication with passengers and ensure adherence to regulatory requirements concerning refunds, rescheduling, and passenger assistance.
“Passengers are advised to check the latest flight status directly with their respective airlines before proceeding to the airport and to rely only on official sources for updates,” the ministry said.
The situation was reviewed at a meeting chaired by Minister of Civil Aviation Rammohan Naidu and attended by Civil Aviation Secretary Samir Kumar Sinha and all senior officials.
The Ministry said it remains in continuous coordination with airlines, airport operators, regulatory authorities, and the Ministry of External Affairs to ensure safe operations, orderly restoration of services, and facilitation of affected passengers. (NVI)
