Partial flight operations resume from Dubai and Abu Dhabi to major Indian cities

Some flights from Dubai and Abu Dhabi to India started running again overnight, bringing relief to thousands of passengers who had been stuck in the UAE after days of disruption caused by the West Asia conflict. Dubai Airports said a few flights resumed on Monday evening from Dubai International (DXB) and Dubai World Central, according to a post from the Dubai Media Office. Passengers were told not to go to the airport unless their airline had contacted them with a confirmed departure time, since schedules could still change. This restart comes after almost all flights were suspended at major Gulf airports due to airspace closures and security warnings. Reuters said that some international airlines started running a few flights from the UAE on Monday, giving some stranded travellers their first way out.

Airlines prioritise earlier bookings

UAE airlines said they will run only a few flights while working through the backlog of passengers. Emirates posted on social media that it would start some flights from the evening of March 2 and would give priority to customers who booked earlier. The airline also reminded customers not to go to the airport unless they are contacted directly. Etihad Airways also started a few flights from Abu Dhabi. According to Indian news reports, at least one flight to India landed in Delhi as operations slowly resumed. Airlines have warned that the flight network remains fragile as they work to get planes and crews back on track after the disruption. Aviation leaders say that even after airports reopen, it will be hard to rebuild schedules because planes and crews are scattered.

India steps up relief measures

In India, the Ministry of Civil Aviation said it is monitoring the evolving airspace situation and its impact on international flights. The ministry said in an official release, shared by Indian media, that special arrangements are being made to help stranded passengers. Airlines are adding more seats where they can and working with foreign aviation authorities and Indian missions abroad. The ministry also said 357 flights were cancelled on Monday due to the crisis. The Economic Times reported that 559 passenger complaints had been resolved through helplines and online channels. According to media reports, IndiGo planned to operate 10 special relief flights from Jeddah to Indian cities on March 3, subject to approvals and airspace conditions. Air India Express also said it would restart flights to and from Muscat from March 3, reconnecting with several Indian cities. Indian media reports said that travel platform EaseMyTrip also announced special charter flights from Fujairah to Delhi and Mumbai on March 3.

The conflict backdrop keeps uncertainty high

The flight disruption happened because of growing conflict, including US-Israeli strikes on Iran and retaliatory attacks in the region. These events led to widespread airspace restrictions and shutdowns at major airports. Dubai Airports has resumed limited operations, but the overall situation in the region is still evolving. Reuters reported on Tuesday that some flights to the UAE and Saudi Arabia were diverted because of new security concerns after reports of an attack in Riyadh. For now, airlines and airports are being careful. They are reopening routes slowly instead of bringing back full schedules right away, as they try to balance moving passengers with safety and being ready to operate.