Air India Express, the low-cost carrier owned by Air India Group, has announced it will restore all flights to the Gulf region by the end of this week. This comes months after the US-Israeli war on Iran triggered major disruptions to the global aviation industry, including tens of thousands of flight cancellations and reroutings in and out of the Middle East.
Background of the disruptions
The US-Israeli attacks on Iran on February 28 led to the closure of airports and airspace across the region due to continued strikes. Airlines faced rising fuel costs and weakening demand for months, as the closure of the Strait of Hormuz caused oil prices to soar. The disruptions severely impacted Indian airlines, which rely heavily on Gulf routes.
Restoration of flights
Air India Express stated it has “restored connectivity to all destinations across its West Asia network.” Flights from the southern Indian cities of Kozhikode and Bengaluru to Kuwait resumed on Friday and Saturday, respectively. The airline now operates flights to 13 destinations across Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.
“With flights to 13 destinations across Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, Air India Express continues to strengthen its position as one of the leading carriers connecting India with the region,” the company said in a statement.
Impact on Indian travel to the Gulf
Gulf countries consistently rank among the top 10 destinations for Indians traveling abroad each year, with the UAE and Saudi Arabia topping the list. In 2024, more than 14 million Indian travelers visited the region, according to official data. However, in June 2026, Indian airlines sold around 220,000 fewer seats in four Gulf states — the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman, and Qatar — compared to the same month last year, based on data from UK-based aviation analytics firm OAG.
Industry-wide challenges
In April, major Indian airlines warned of a potential suspension of services due to fuel price hikes triggered by the war on Iran. The Federation of Indian Airlines, representing IndiGo, Air India, and SpiceJet, said the airline industry in India was on the “verge of closing down.” IndiGo, India’s largest airline, has also been resuming its Gulf flights, restoring more than 70 percent of its West Asia routes as of late June, according to local media reports.
Recovery and traveler confidence
While travel to the region has yet to fully recover, travel companies report improved booking trends and renewed traveler confidence in recent weeks. Aviation expert Anil Kakkar told Arab News: “Every airline across the world, whoever is flying from the Middle East, in the Middle East, or via the Middle East and all those things, is feeling relaxed. Any event in the world definitely affects travel, and the most affected sector is aviation. So, if things are coming back to normal, that means business as usual, flights as usual, and more revenue.”
