As West Asia ceasefire holds, a positive update on Gulf airspaces and flights

With the West Asia crisis continues crossing its 10th week, travel to Gulf nations may have become a risk-prone adventure. But, things are changing for the better.

With the ceasefire in place — though fragile — and backchannel peace talks still underway through Pakistan’s mediation, many countries have reopened their airspaces and travel plans to the region are on once again.

According to Aseem R Mahajan, Additional Secretary (Gulf) at the Ministry of External Affairs, flights between India and several Gulf countries, including the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Saudi Arabia, and Qatar, are currently operating. He made the remarks during a press briefing in New Delhi on May 11.
Mahajan said the overall flight situation continues to improve, with additional flights operating from the region to various destinations in India.

He said the UAE airspace is open, and Indian and UAE carriers are operating flights from the country to various destinations in India.

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Similarly, the airspace of Saudi Arabia and Oman also remains open, with Indian, Saudi, and Omani carriers flying passengers across destinations.

Mahajan said the Qatar airspace is partially open, and carriers such as Air India, Air India Express, IndiGo, and Qatar Airways are operating flights.

Kuwait is also open, with Jazeera Airways and Kuwait Airways operating flights.

The Bahrain airspace is open, and carriers such as Air India Express, IndiGo, and Gulf Air are operating flights in the region.

The MEA official further said the airspace of Iraq is also open, but with “limited flight operations to destinations in the region which can be used for onward travel to India.”

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Mahajan added that the Iran airspace is partially open but India has advised Indian nationals to avoid travelling to Iran and urged those already there to leave with support from the embassy.

So far, the Indian Embassy in Tehran has facilitated the movement of 2,549 Indian nationals out of Iran through land border routes, Mahajan added.

The official added that the Israeli airspace is open, but with limited flight operations.