India’s aviation sector has shifted into high gear as the military confrontation between the US-Israel alliance and Iran intensifies. On Wednesday, March 11, 2026, the Ministry of Civil Aviation confirmed that Air India and IndiGo have commenced a series of “ad-hoc” and special scheduled flights to prevent thousands of Indian nationals from being stranded in the Gulf.
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With the Strait of Hormuz region under extreme surveillance, these special flights are designed to operate with maximum flexibility, using alternate flight paths and technical stops to ensure passenger safety remains the absolute priority.
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Air India Group: The 58-Flight Surge
The Air India group (including Air India Express) is currently the primary mover for the evacuation-support mission.
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UAE Operations: 36 ad-hoc non-scheduled flights have been activated for Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah, contingent on real-time slot availability.
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Saudi Connection: New round-trips to Jeddah from Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, and Kozhikode.
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Muscat Focus: Two round-trips from Kochi and single round-trips from Delhi, Mumbai, Kannur, Thiruvananthapuram, and Tiruchirappalli.
IndiGo Strategy: 8 Destinations & Europe Connectivity
IndiGo is utilizing its narrow-body fleet to maintain a high-frequency shuttle service.
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Regional Hubs: Focusing on 8 destinations including Ras-al-Khaimah, Al-Ain, and Fujairah.
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Europe Transit: Select routes to Europe are also being adjusted to ensure Indian travelers abroad can return via safer corridors.
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Capacity: On March 9 alone, Indian carriers successfully brought back 7,047 passengers on 45 inbound flights, a number expected to grow today.
The Muscat Corridor: Safety & Technical Halts
The DGCA has secured a critical agreement with Omani authorities.
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Alternate Port: Muscat International Airport is now a designated en-route alternate for flights to/from Jeddah, Medinah, and the UAE.
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Why it matters: If airspace over the Persian Gulf becomes restricted mid-flight, aircraft now have a pre-cleared “safe haven” for landing and refueling without the usual diplomatic delays.
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Ministry Oversight: Monitoring the US-Israel-Iran Conflict
The Ministry of Civil Aviation and the DGCA are in constant communication with the External Affairs Ministry.
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Operational Flexibility: Airlines have been granted permission to bypass standard scheduling rules to run rescue missions.
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Russian Fuel Factor: While US-Iran tensions are high, India continues to utilize its unique diplomatic position to ensure fuel supplies for these carriers remain stable, even leveraging Russian oil waivers to keep operational costs from spiraling further.
Reality Check
These are “special flights,” not “free evacuations.” Still, the government’s intervention ensures that ticket prices—which have tripled on the black market—stay within a “reasonable” ad-hoc bracket. Therefore, while you may pay more than a standard March fare, you are guaranteed a seat on a carrier with sovereign diplomatic backing. In fact, the inclusion of Jeddah and Muscat suggests that the government is preparing for a scenario where UAE hubs (Dubai/Abu Dhabi) might become too congested or risky for routine operations.
The Loopholes
The Ministry says it is “facilitating slots.” In fact, this is a “Congestion Loophole”—simply granting a slot doesn’t mean the aircraft can take off if the destination airport is under a “Ground Stop” order due to missile activity. Therefore, “operational plan” is a polite term for “flying when it’s safe.” Still, the “Ad-Hoc Loophole” remains; by classifying these as non-scheduled flights, airlines can charge premium “emergency” rates that are often higher than standard IATA-regulated prices, though still lower than the private jet options.
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What This Means for You
If you or your family members are in the UAE or Saudi Arabia, book these special flights immediately via official websites. First, realize that these seats are filling up in minutes and “offline” agents may not have real-time access. Then, if your flight is rerouted to Muscat, understand that this is for your safety; the DGCA has ensured you won’t need a separate visa for a technical halt.
Finally, understand that baggage limits may be strictly enforced to maximize passenger load. You should travel light to ensure you aren’t offloaded from smaller Air India Express or IndiGo aircraft. Before heading to the airport, check the live flight status every hour, as slots are being granted and revoked in real-time based on military “windows.”
What’s Next
The DGCA will review the Muscat alternate agreement on Friday. Then, look for Air India to deploy its wide-body A350s if the number of stranded passengers in Dubai exceeds 10,000. Finally, expect special “repatriation” trains to be stationed at Mumbai and Delhi airports to ferry arriving passengers to their home states.
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