New Delhi, 17 March (H.S.): Tata Group carriers Air India and Air India Express announced plans to operate 44 scheduled and non-scheduled flights to and from West Asia on Tuesday, bolstering connectivity amid the intensifying conflict gripping the region.

In a statement posted on X, the airlines affirmed their commitment to key destinations including Muscat and Jeddah, with Air India handling Delhi-Jeddah and Mumbai-Jeddah rotations, while Air India Express services span Kozhikode-Jeddah and multiple Oman routes from cities like Delhi, Kochi, Mangalore, Mumbai, and Tiruchirappalli.

Conversely, Dubai International Airport imposed curbs on foreign carrier operations due to security concerns, prompting IndiGo, the Air India group for Dubai routes, and SpiceJet to suspend services temporarily. IndiGo cited the airport's suspension of landing permissions until further notice, while SpiceJet attributed halts to evolving regional dynamics.

This operational resilience highlights Air India's strategic pivot to unaffected hubs, ensuring passenger mobility despite West Asia's volatility following recent Iranian strikes and retaliatory actions.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar