NEW DELHI — The Indian government said Monday it is working closely with airlines, airport operators, regulators and the Ministry of External Affairs to ensure passenger safety and restore flight operations as tensions in parts of the Middle East continue to disrupt international air traffic.
The situation was reviewed at a high-level meeting chaired by Civil Aviation Minister Rammohan Naidu. Civil Aviation Secretary Samir Kumar Sinha and other senior officials attended the meeting, according to the Ministry of Civil Aviation.
In a statement, the ministry said it is closely monitoring the evolving airspace situation in parts of the Middle East and assessing its impact on international flight operations to and from India.
“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. Aircraft and crew repositioning measures are underway to restore operational stability at the earliest,” the ministry said.
Authorities said special arrangements are being made to assist stranded passengers. Airlines are adding capacity where necessary and coordinating with foreign aviation authorities and Indian diplomatic missions abroad to facilitate safe and orderly travel.
IndiGo has scheduled 10 special relief flights from Jeddah to India on March 3 to bring back stranded passengers, subject to required approvals and prevailing airspace conditions. The airline is coordinating with the Consulate General of India in Jeddah to assist travelers.
“Foreign carriers operating between India and the Gulf region are also undertaking limited operations, subject to operational and airspace considerations,” the ministry said.
The government emphasized that passenger safety remains its top priority and has advised airlines to maintain transparent communication with travelers. Carriers have been instructed to comply with regulatory requirements related to 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,” the ministry said. (Source: IANS)
