Air India announced the cancellation of all its Dubai flights on Friday, citing continued operational challenges at the airport. Meanwhile, Air India Express and IndiGo have also canceled several services
Indian airlines are adjusting their flight schedules to and from Dubai as operational disruptions persist at the bustling airport in the Emirates. Air India, Air India Express, and SpiceJet have either canceled or rescheduled their services due to restrictions imposed at Dubai’s airport.
The disruptions have significantly affected air traffic between India and the UAE, particularly in Dubai, which ranks among the world’s busiest airports. Air India announced the cancellation of all its Dubai flights on Friday, citing continued operational challenges at the airport. Meanwhile, Air India Express and IndiGo have also canceled several services.
Sources revealed that Dubai airport issued a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM), restricting flights by non-UAE operators until April 21. Non-UAE operators with more than two flights within 24 hours are required to reduce their operations by 50% during this period. Consequently, Indian carriers have been forced to cancel and reschedule their flights, incurring additional operational costs.
The disruption led to an Air India Express flight from Calicut to Dubai being diverted to Muscat, with passengers later transferred to a flight bound for Ras Al Khaimah. An Air India spokesperson assured affected customers that the airline is working to accommodate them on alternative flights once operations resume.
Presently, Air India operates 72 weekly flights to Dubai from five Indian cities, primarily Delhi. Air India Express operates 84 weekly flights. While operations are expected to partially resume on Saturday, SpiceJet announced that some flights from Delhi, Ahmedabad, Mumbai, and Pune would operate to and from Fujairah due to airport restrictions caused by recent heavy rains in Dubai.
Dubai International Airport, ranked as the world’s second busiest airport in 2023, handling over 86.9 million passengers, faced unprecedented challenges due to the adverse weather conditions
Air India Express stated that it has adjusted its flight operations in compliance with Dubai Airport Authority’s directives, maintaining a 50% reduced capacity. The airline is closely monitoring developments and awaits permissions to return to its full schedule. Passengers affected by the disruptions are offered complimentary rescheduling or full refunds.
In a message to staff, Air India CEO and MD Campbell Wilson acknowledged the challenges faced due to disruptions in Tel Aviv and the US, as well as unprecedented rains in Dubai. IndiGo also canceled some Dubai flights, while Vistara did not provide any comment on the matter.
The Indian embassy in the UAE advised inbound Indian passengers to reschedule non-essential travel through Dubai International Airport until operations normalize. The disruption was caused by heavy rains earlier in the week, which inundated the airport, affecting normal operations.
Dubai International Airport, ranked as the world’s second busiest airport in 2023, handling over 86.9 million passengers, faced unprecedented challenges due to the adverse weather conditions.
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