Passengers Get Relief as Air India Operates Extra Flights Amid Regional Tensions

Air India announced on Sunday that it will operate 78 additional flights on nine international routes between March 10 and March 18, 2026, to support passengers amid the ongoing situation in West Asia.

The carrier said it is adding extra capacity on routes to New York (JFK), London (Heathrow), Frankfurt, Paris, Amsterdam, Zurich, Colombo, and Malé, providing a total of 17,660 additional seats in both directions. Key routes include Delhi–New York (JFK), Delhi–London (Heathrow), and Mumbai–London (Heathrow), aimed at boosting capacity when travel options remain constrained.

Flights from Frankfurt, Paris, Amsterdam, Zurich, Male, and Colombo to Delhi will also be increased. European routes will primarily operate with Boeing 787-8 aircraft, while flights to Male and Colombo will use A320neo planes. Services to New York (JFK) will operate with B777-300ER aircraft, subject to regulatory approvals.

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“Despite the odds, Air India continues to maintain its scheduled services to Europe and North America, sustaining connectivity to several international gateways using alternative routings that are assessed as safe for operations,” said Nipun Aggarwal, Chief Commercial Officer of Air India. He added that passengers will benefit from additional travel options and reliability amid current constraints.

In addition, due to ongoing airspace restrictions in parts of West Asia, Air India will operate extra non-scheduled flights. On March 8, the airline said it would run additional flights between Delhi, Mumbai, and Dubai, while Air India Express will operate 30 extra flights connecting India with UAE cities including Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Ras Al Khaimah, and Sharjah.

The move reflects the airline’s efforts to sustain international connectivity and provide relief for travelers amid regional tensions, ensuring passengers have more options for safe and timely travel.

Also Read: Air India Suspends UAE, Saudi, Qatar and Israel Flights as Crisis Shows No Signs of Easing