UAE-India travel: Check today’s flights schedule as Air India cuts regular services
New surcharge structure impacts international passenger fares
DUBAI – Air travel between the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and India is seeing notable operational adjustments, with Air India and Air India Express scaling back scheduled services and shifting to ad hoc flights across key UAE airports today.
The move comes as airlines grapple with sharply rising jet fuel costs, which have also prompted a revision in fuel surcharges on both domestic and international routes.
Passengers travelling between the UAE and India are being advised to check flight availability closely, as scheduled operations remain limited across major hubs including Dubai and Abu Dhabi. The airline group has indicated that all operations remain subject to slot availability and prevailing conditions at departure stations.
UAE operations
Across the UAE, scheduled Air India flights have largely been suspended for Wednesday, with services operating instead on an ad hoc basis. In Dubai, flights are not running on a fixed schedule, with limited ad hoc operations connecting to Delhi via Air India and to Mangalore via Air India Express.
#ImportantUpdate
— Air India (@airindia) April 7, 2026
Air India and Air India Express will together operate the following scheduled and non-scheduled flights, to and from the West Asia region on 08 April 2026, subject to availability of slots and other prevailing conditions at the departure stations at the time. pic.twitter.com/OFsODo9x9G
Abu Dhabi is also operating without scheduled services, though ad hoc flights are being deployed to multiple Indian cities. Air India Express is running flights linking the UAE capital with Delhi, Kochi, Kozhikode, Mangalore, and Mumbai, offering some connectivity despite the disruption to regular schedules.
In Sharjah, operations are similarly restricted to ad hoc services, with flights connecting to Amritsar and Kannur. Ras Al Khaimah has no scheduled services either, but ad hoc operations remain possible depending on approvals. Al Ain, however, has no flight activity at all for the day, with both scheduled and ad hoc services suspended.
The adjustments mark a significant reduction in predictability for UAE-India travel, particularly for passengers accustomed to frequent daily departures. Airlines have not indicated how long the current operating model will remain in place, though it is closely tied to broader operational and cost pressures.
Air India flights
Elsewhere in West Asia, the pattern is mixed. Oman’s Muscat continues to see scheduled Air India Express flights to Indian cities including Delhi, Kannur, Mumbai, and Thiruvananthapuram. However, Salalah has no active operations.
In Saudi Arabia, scheduled flights are operating in Jeddah, with Air India and Air India Express maintaining links to Delhi, Mumbai, Kozhikode, and Mangalore. Other major Saudi cities, including Riyadh and Dammam, currently have no services.
Flights to Bahrain, Doha, Kuwait, and Tel Aviv remain suspended, indicating a broader regional contraction in scheduled services. This uneven operating landscape underscores the challenges airlines are facing in maintaining consistent international connectivity.
Fuel surge
The operational changes coincide with a sharp escalation in global jet fuel prices, which has significantly impacted airline cost structures. According to the International Air Transport Association, the average jet fuel price surged to $195.19 per barrel for the week ending March 27, nearly doubling from $99.40 at the end of February.
#ImportantUpdate
— Air India (@airindia) April 7, 2026
Air India group announces revised fuel surcharges on domestic and international routes.
Read more here: https://t.co/piFcCaA0jJ
In addition to rising crude oil prices, refinery margins, known as crack spreads, have also increased dramatically. These margins rose from $27.83 per barrel in late February to $81.44 by the end of March, further intensifying cost pressures on airlines.
Against this backdrop, Air India has revised its fuel surcharge structure effective April 8. For international routes, including those between the UAE and India, passengers will now pay a fuel surcharge of $50 per sector for travel within the West Asia and Middle East region.
The airline noted that these surcharges do not fully offset the increase in fuel costs, with a significant portion still being absorbed internally. Nonetheless, the revisions reflect the scale of the cost challenge facing global carriers.
For domestic routes within India, the airline has shifted to a distance-based surcharge system. Charges now range from INR 299 for sectors up to 500 km to INR 899 for flights exceeding 2,000 km. The change follows a government decision to cap increases in domestic aviation turbine fuel prices.
For long-haul international travel, the revised surcharges are considerably higher. Passengers flying to Europe, including the United Kingdom, will pay $205 per sector, while those travelling to North America and Australia will face surcharges of $280.
The updated surcharge regime applies to tickets issued from the specified effective times, while previously issued tickets remain unaffected unless changes are made to travel dates or itineraries.
Airlines have indicated that surcharges will be reviewed periodically, depending on fuel price trends and broader market conditions, suggesting that further adjustments may follow if volatility persists.