The flight situation in West Asia is reportedly improving, with Kuwaiti and Israeli airspace now accessible for commercial flights. Aseem R Mahajan, Additional Secretary (Gulf) at the Ministry of External Affairs, provided details during an inter-ministerial press briefing on April 24 in New Delhi. He highlighted that these developments would allow two airlines to resume limited flights from Kuwait back to India shortly.

According to Mahajan, since February 28, 12,38,000 passengers have travelled from this region to India. He confirmed that Jazeera Airways and Kuwait Airways will soon begin limited operations from Kuwait to India, while non-scheduled commercial flights from Dammam Airport in Saudi Arabia continue to various Indian destinations.

Ongoing Flight Operations from Various Countries

The Additional Secretary further informed that Israel’s airspace is now open to limited flight operations to regional destinations, which can facilitate onward travel to India. Current estimates indicate approximately 110 flights are expected to operate between the UAE and India today. Flights are also running from different airports in Saudi Arabia and Oman to India.

Partially open airspace in Qatar and Bahrain has allowed Qatar Airways and Gulf Airways to operate flights to various destinations in India. Additionally, limited operations are reported for Iraq’s airspace, and Iran’s airspace is only partially available for cargo and chartered flights. The Ministry has reiterated travel advisories concerning Iran, encouraging Indian nationals to use land border routes for exit.

Evacuations and Assistance for Indian Nationals

As of now, the Indian embassy has successfully facilitated the movement of 2,432 Indian nationals from Iran into Armenia and Azerbaijan, including 1,096 students and 657 fishermen. Mahajan noted the importance of ensuring the welfare of Indian seafarers in the region, with missions providing necessary support, including consular assistance and coordination with local authorities.

MEP Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal addressed the ongoing serious situation in Iran, acknowledging the challenging circumstances that have persisted despite a recent ceasefire. He praised the efforts of the Indian Ambassador and the embassy team in Tehran for their dedicated operational support during this period.

Mahajan stressed that the Ministry of External Affairs is closely monitoring developments in the Gulf and West Asia, reaffirming the government’s commitment to the safety of the large Indian community there. The ministry has operationalised a special control room to address queries from Indian nationals and their families, providing updated advisories on travel and local guidelines. Welfare measures for the community are also in progress.

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