Amid escalating tensions in parts of West Asia and widespread airspace closures, the Ministry of Civil Aviation on Monday announced that IndiGo will operate 10 special relief flights from Jeddah to India on March 3 to facilitate the return of stranded passengers, ANI reported.
In a statement, the Ministry said the operations are subject to required approvals and prevailing airspace conditions. IndiGo is coordinating closely with the Consulate General of India in Jeddah to assist passengers.
The Ministry in its statement, added “IndiGo has planned 10 special relief operations from Jeddah to India on 3 March to facilitate the return of stranded passengers, subject to required approvals and prevailing airspace conditions. IndiGo is coordinating with the Consulate General of India at Jeddah for passenger facilitation.”
As per the PTI, the sources added that the flights from Jeddah are expected to connect to cities including Hyderabad, Mumbai, Delhi and Ahmedabad.
Union Civil Aviation Minister Rammohan Naidu reviewed the evolving situation in a high-level meeting attended by Civil Aviation Secretary Samir Kumar Sinha and other senior officials. The Ministry said it is closely monitoring developments in parts of the Middle East and assessing their impact on international flight operations, newsonair reported.
It added that airlines are deploying additional capacity where required and coordinating with foreign aviation authorities and Indian missions abroad to ensure safe and orderly passenger movement.
Passengers have been 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.
Air India extends suspension
Meanwhile, Air India has extended the temporary suspension of its flights to and from the Middle East until 2359 hrs (IST) on March 3 due to continued airspace closures.
In a travel advisory, the airline said it is closely monitoring the evolving situation while prioritising the safety and security of passengers and crew. Scheduled operations to destinations in the United States, Canada, Europe and the United Kingdom have commenced, the airline said.
Foreign carriers operating between India and the Gulf region are also undertaking limited operations, subject to operational and airspace considerations, the ministry added.
Centre in touch with Indian missions
PTI further reported that the developments come as the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, expressed concern over the safety of the large Indian expatriate community in Gulf nations and directed departments to take necessary measures to assist affected nationals.
Union Minister Pralhad Joshi said the Centre is fully prepared to bring back Indians stranded in the region and is in touch with Indian missions to facilitate their safe return.
Several state governments have also activated helplines and emergency control rooms to assist residents stranded abroad. States including Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh reported citizens affected by the disruption.
Authorities reiterated that the situation remains dynamic and dependent on airspace availability, with relief measures being scaled up as required.
