Resumption of Services
The skies are opening up again for travel to the Middle East as Air India and Air India Express gear up to operate a substantial number of flights on March
8. This comes as a welcome development with the airspace over crucial regions like Saudi Arabia and Oman now accessible. The airlines are committed to maintaining both their regular scheduled services and introducing additional non-scheduled flights to key cities across the Middle East. This strategic move aims to reconnect India with these important destinations, particularly after a period of disruption. The focus remains on ensuring safe and reliable travel options for passengers navigating the current geopolitical landscape, underscoring the resilience of air travel in the region.
Scheduled Flights to Oman
On March 8, Air India Express will be instrumental in facilitating travel to Muscat, Oman, operating a total of seven distinct routes. Flights connecting Mumbai to Muscat and back will be handled by flight numbers IX235 and IX236. Similarly, Delhi will be connected to Muscat with flights IX163 and IX164. Travelers from Kochi can utilize flights IX431/IX432 and IX441/IX442 for their journeys to and from Muscat. Kozhikode will have two sets of flights, IX337/IX338 and IX318/IX317, serving the Muscat route. Additionally, Thiruvananthapuram will be linked to Muscat via flights IX550 and IX549, ensuring comprehensive connectivity to this Omani capital.
Scheduled Flights to Saudi Arabia
For travel to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on March 8, Air India will operate direct flights between Delhi and Jeddah, identified by flight numbers AI2255 and AI2256. The airline will also manage the Mumbai-Jeddah route with flights AI2245 and AI2246. Air India Express will contribute to the Jeddah connectivity with specific routes as well. Passengers flying from Kozhikode to Jeddah and back will be on flights IX397 and IX398. Mangaluru will be served by flights IX845 and IX846 for its connection to Jeddah. Furthermore, Bengaluru will have flights IX941 and IX942 operating to and from Jeddah, providing crucial links to this Saudi Arabian city.
Additional Non-Scheduled Flights
Beyond the scheduled operations, both Air India and Air India Express are bolstering their capacity with numerous additional non-scheduled flights, primarily targeting UAE destinations and Oman on March 8. These flights are especially geared towards assisting travelers who may have been impacted by prior cancellations. The UAE will see extensive connectivity, with Dubai receiving attention from both airlines. Air India will operate Mumbai-Dubai-Delhi (AI4201/AI4202) and Delhi-Dubai-Delhi (AI4205/AI4206). Air India Express will manage multiple Mumbai-Dubai-Mumbai routes (IX2117/IX1118, IX1117/IX1118) and Delhi-Dubai-Delhi routes (IX2115/IX2116), alongside flights from Bengaluru (IX1115/IX1116). Ras Al Khaimah, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah will also have multiple connections from various Indian cities, further enhancing travel options. Additionally, two more routes will connect Mumbai and Delhi to Muscat in Oman.
Cancellations and Rebooking
In conjunction with these expanded operations, certain flights remain cancelled. Air India Express has suspended all scheduled flights to and from Bahrain, Dammam, Doha, Kuwait, and Riyadh until March 13. Similarly, Air India has cancelled its scheduled services to Dammam, Doha, and Riyadh until March 10. For passengers affected by these cancellations, provisions for rebooking or refunds are in place. Travelers booked on cancelled flights can conveniently reschedule their journeys to a future date without incurring additional charges or can opt for a full refund. Detailed instructions for rebooking or cancellation requests are available on the respective airline websites, with customer support hotlines provided for further assistance.
