New Delhi (Gurpreet Singh)— In response to the escalating conflict in West Asia, India’s largest carrier, IndiGo, announced on Saturday, March 14, 2026, that it will suspend all planned operations to seven key Middle East destinations until at least March 28. The suspension covers flights to Doha, Kuwait, Bahrain, Dammam, Fujairah, Ras Al Khaimah, and Sharjah.
The airline cited a combination of geopolitical risks, airspace restrictions, and a sharp rise in fuel and insurance costs as primary reasons for the network adjustment. Despite these suspensions, IndiGo plans to maintain essential connectivity by operating 252 weekly flights to other parts of the region during this two-week window, provided conditions remain stable.
Air India and Air India Express Step Up
While IndiGo is scaling back, the Air India group is moving to fill the gap for stranded passengers. On Sunday, March 15, Air India and Air India Express are scheduled to operate a total of 72 flights to and from West Asia.
Of these, 52 are non-scheduled “special” flights specifically targeting the UAE and Saudi Arabia. These operations remain subject to last-minute slot availability and the ground situation at various departure points. This surge in flights is aimed at assisting the ongoing evacuation of Indian nationals, with over 1.5 lakh citizens already having returned home since the conflict began on February 28.
Impact on Travel and Logistics
The conflict involving the U.S., Israel, and Iran has fundamentally altered the aviation landscape in the Persian Gulf.
- Fuel & Insurance: Airlines are facing “consistently rising” operational costs, making many commercial routes financially unviable or too high-risk for standard operations.
- Airspace Restrictions: Frequent closures of Iranian and neighboring airspaces have forced pilots to take longer, more expensive flight paths, further straining airline schedules.
- Evacuation Priority: The Ministry of External Affairs continues to coordinate with both state-run and private carriers to prioritize the safe return of the nearly 10 million Indians living in the region.
IndiGo has stated it will continue to monitor the situation daily and may further adjust its schedule as “other uncertainties” evolve.
