New Delhi, 30 March (H.S.):

Air India and its low‑cost arm Air India Express, both under Tata‑led Air India Group, will together operate 20 scheduled and non‑scheduled flights to and from the West Asia region on Monday, March 30, 2026. The move is part of the carrier’s efforts to support travel demand in the Gulf amid ongoing regional disruptions, while keeping its long‑haul international network largely unchanged.

In a statement issued on Monday, March 30, the airline said the 20 flights will cover inbound and outbound routes between India and key West Asian destinations, including the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The schedule includes 10 non‑scheduled flights to and from the UAE, in addition to regular scheduled services, with operations contingent on airport slot availability and local conditions at departure and arrival stations.

All of these flights have been cleared by Indian and local regulatory authorities, the airline noted, confirming that the necessary permissions from aviation‑safety and air‑traffic bodies in the UAE and India are in place.

Air India said that its flights to and from North America, Europe, Australia and other regions will continue operating to their original schedules, with no changes to departure times or routing announced so far.

The airline is using the West Asian services, including the ad‑hoc flights, to de‑congest the India–Gulf corridor and absorb some of the stranded demand without disrupting its core international network.

For passengers whose travel was affected by the earlier suspension of certain Air India Group routes to West Asia, the airline has announced a flexible policy. Those who have tickets for routes where services are still temporarily suspended can rebook to a future date without any extra charge or opt for a full refund instead.

Passengers can initiate rebooking or cancellation requests through the Air India website at airindia.com, where they can manage bookings, check live schedules and update contact details. For further assistance, the airline has a 24‑hour helpline through which travellers can obtain updates on flights, rebooking options and refund procedures.

By running 20 combined flights to West Asia on March 30, Air India and Air India Express aim to ease travel for thousands of passengers, especially those in the UAE, while keeping the rest of its global network running as per the usual timetable.

---------------

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar