New Delhi, 12 March (H.S.):

India's major airlines are ramping up operations to the Middle East today, scheduling more than 100 flights despite ongoing regional tensions, providing vital connectivity for passengers and repatriation efforts. Tata Group's Air India and its subsidiary Air India Express plan a combined 58 flights, while IndiGo announced 41 services and newcomer Akasa Air confirmed five routes to Jeddah from key Indian cities.

Air India and Air India Express will run 18 scheduled flights—10 to Jeddah in Saudi Arabia and eight to Muscat in Oman—alongside 40 special flights, including services from Jeddah to Delhi and Mumbai, and new routes from Riyadh to Mumbai and Kozhikode starting today. IndiGo's operations target nine Middle Eastern cities such as Medina, Jeddah, Muscat, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Dubai, Ras Al-Khaimah, and Fujairah, plus five flights to Europe via London Heathrow and Amsterdam. Akasa Air will operate from Ahmedabad, Kochi, Kozhikode, Mumbai, and Bengaluru to Jeddah until March 31.

Airlines have assured flexibility for affected passengers, offering free rescheduling or full refunds without extra charges, as they monitor the volatile situation in West Asia.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar