Even as regular schedules remain patchy, Indian airlines have begun a coordinated repatriation effort. Business Today reports that on 6 March IndiGo planned 17 departures to eight Middle-East destinations, SpiceJet lined up 14 special UAE flights, and Air India Express operated additional Muscat, Dubai and Ras al Khaimah rotations. Flag-carrier Air India has reopened Jeddah and Muscat routes after safety clearances, while Etihad received approval to fly relief sectors from Abu Dhabi to eight Indian cities between 6 and 19 March. Corporates with travellers stuck in the region are advised to keep PNRs active; airlines are giving fee-free rebooking windows until 31 March and offering waivers on fare differences. Mobility managers should, however, factor in possible short-notice cancellations as regional airspace is being reopened in rolling phases. Industry estimates suggest 35,000 Indians were stranded across Gulf airports at the height of the shutdown. The special flights—operated under temporary Civil Aviation Authority exemptions—are expected to clear the backlog within a week if security conditions do not worsen, restoring an important labour and business corridor.
Source: Business Today
