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Over 52,000 Indians return home amid US-Israel-Iran war; more flights planned
Indian carriers have undertaken calibrated adjustments to their schedules; long-haul operations have progressively resumed through alternative routes, avoiding restricted airspace
- PUBLISHED: Sun 8 Mar 2026, 4:36 PM
[Editor's Note: Follow Khaleej Times live blog amid US-Israel-Iran war for the latest regional developments.]
More than 52,000 Indians have returned safely from the Middle East to India between March 1 and 7, the country’s Ministry of External Affairs has confirmed. Indian airlines are also scheduled to operate 58 flights between India and the Gulf on Sunday.
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The Indian government is “continuously monitoring the evolving airspace situation in West Asia and the Gulf region, especially with regard to the welfare of Indian nationals who have been stranded there during transit or on short duration visits,” MEA added.
As of March 7, a total of 1,221 flights by Indian carriers and 388 by foreign ones have been cancelled due to the ongoing situation.
The Indian government said it is in continuous touch with airlines and is closely monitoring airfares to ensure that there is no undue surge in ticket prices during this period. 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,” added the ministry.
The 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, added the ministry.
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The government also urged all Indian nationals in the Middle East to follow the guidelines of the local authorities as well as the advisories being issued by the Indian Embassy or Consulate in their location. “Each of our Embassies and Consulates in these countries have issued detailed advisories and set up 24x7 Helplines that are assisting in addressing concerns on account of the ongoing situation,” it added.
The ministry has also set up a dedicated Special Control Room to monitor and respond to queries from those affected as well as their families.
After the partial opening of airspace across the region in the last few days, Indian and foreign airlines are operating commercial flights, including non-scheduled flights, to enable the return of Indian passengers who were in transit or on short-term visits in these countries.
Of the total 52,000 Indians, 32,107 travelled on Indian carriers. And more flights are being planned in the coming days, it added.
In countries where commercial flight operations are unavailable, Indians have been advised to contact the concerned Embassy/Consulate for information and advice regarding the nearest available commercial flight options.
“The safety and welfare of Indian nationals abroad is of utmost priority to the Government, which remains engaged with the Governments across the region to work towards facilitating all those in need of assistance,” it added.
Airlines, including Air India, Air India Express and IndiGo have been adjusting schedules to prioritise the repatriation of Indians.
