Although officials say the operation is precautionary, the scale is similar to previous evacuation missions organised during global crises.
The Indian government has authorised 58 special flights to evacuate and repatriate citizens from Gulf countries after widespread flight cancellations caused by regional tensions and airspace restrictions.
India’s Ministry of Civil Aviation approved the flights for 4 March, with operations shared between Air India and IndiGo. The move comes after hundreds of commercial flights were cancelled across the Middle East following missile strikes and the closure of several airspaces.
Since late February, more than 1,200 flights operated by Indian airlines and hundreds more by foreign carriers have been cancelled due to restrictions over Iran, Iraq and parts of Saudi Arabia.
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The special flights are focused on cities with large Indian communities, including Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha, Muscat and Kuwait City
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These locations host millions of Indian workers employed in sectors such as construction, energy and services
Because aircraft must avoid conflict zones, many flights are now taking longer routes. A journey between Dubai and Delhi that usually takes about three and a half hours may now take nearly six hours. Some flights may also need additional crew members and refuelling stops in Indian cities such as Ahmedabad or Mumbai.
Employers are working closely with authorities to organise passenger lists and avoid duplicate bookings. Indian embassies in the region are also issuing emergency travel documents to workers who do not have immediate access to their passports.
When passengers arrive in India, they will undergo enhanced immigration and customs checks. State governments including Kerala and Maharashtra have set up help desks at airports to assist returning travellers and help them continue their journeys home.
