Air India boosts UAE connectivity with 32 West Asia flights amid disruptions
Select Middle East routes retain scheduled operations on key sectors
DUBAI – Air travel between the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and India continues to see calibrated adjustments, with Air India and Air India Express confirming a total of 32 scheduled and non-scheduled flights across West Asia today.
The revised operations come as airlines respond to evolving regional conditions, maintaining essential connectivity while navigating operational constraints.
A notable share of these services includes additional ad-hoc flights from the UAE, aimed at supporting passenger demand across key Indian routes.
UAE network
Of the total operations, 16 non-scheduled flights are being deployed to and from the UAE, subject to slot availability and prevailing airport conditions. These flights are operating with approvals from relevant authorities in both India and the UAE.
Dubai will see ad-hoc services including Air India flights to Delhi and Air India Express connections to Mangalore. Abu Dhabi will handle multiple Air India Express flights linking to Delhi, Kochi, Mangalore and Mumbai, marking one of the busiest nodes in the temporary schedule.
#ImportantUpdate
— Air India (@airindia) April 6, 2026
Air India and Air India Express will together operate 32 scheduled and non-scheduled flights, to and from the West Asia region on 07 April 2026.
Read more: https://t.co/gE6YrYvWrY
Sharjah continues to play a key role with Air India Express services to Amritsar and Kannur, while Ras Al Khaimah is also included for ad-hoc operations, though specific sectors have not been detailed. Al Ain remains without any scheduled or non-scheduled services.
Regional links
Across the wider West Asia region, selected scheduled routes remain active. In Oman, Muscat continues to operate Air India Express services to Delhi and Mumbai, while Salalah remains without operations.
Saudi Arabia retains scheduled connectivity through Jeddah and Riyadh. From Jeddah, Air India operates flights to Mumbai, alongside Air India Express services to Hyderabad, Kannur and Kozhikode. Riyadh maintains Air India services to Delhi, with additional Air India Express flights to Kozhikode.
No services are scheduled for Dammam, Bahrain, Doha, Kuwait or Tel Aviv on April 7, reflecting ongoing network adjustments across parts of the region.
Passenger support
Air India confirmed that its long-haul network, including flights to North America, Europe and Australia, continues to operate as scheduled, providing stability for international travellers beyond the region.
Passengers impacted by temporary suspensions are being offered flexible options, including free rebooking to a later date or full refunds. Requests can be made through the airline’s official website or customer support channels, which remain operational round the clock.
Air India Express passengers travelling from the UAE can rebook on additional commercial flights operating across UAE stations to destinations in India. The airline also offers assistance through its AI-powered digital assistant, Tia, available via WhatsApp for convenient rebooking and support.
The Air India group is proactively contacting affected passengers using registered mobile numbers, urging travellers to ensure their contact details are up to date to receive timely notifications on schedule changes and rebooking options.
Efforts are ongoing to introduce further ad-hoc flights between West Asia and India, as airlines continue to adapt operations in line with regional developments.