Air India Express to operate Mangaluru–Muscat flight amid West Asia tensions

Air India Express to operate Mangaluru–Muscat flight amid West Asia tensions

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, Mar 10, 2026: Despite ongoing regional tensions in West Asia affecting aviation operations, Air India and Air India Express have announced scheduled flight services for March 10, including a Mangaluru–Muscat flight, along with additional operations between India and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

According to Gulf News, airspaces over Saudi Arabia and Oman remain open, allowing both airlines to continue select services. Together, Air India and Air India Express will operate 14 flights to and from Jeddah, while Air India Express will run 14 flights to and from Muscat, including the Mangaluru–Muscat–Mangaluru service (IX817 / IX818).

On March 10, Air India will operate one round trip from Delhi and two round trips from Mumbai to Jeddah. Air India Express will operate Jeddah services from Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Mangaluru and Kozhikode, including the Mangaluru–Jeddah–Mangaluru flight (IX845 / IX846).

For Muscat, Air India Express will operate scheduled flights from Delhi, Kannur, Kochi, Kozhikode, Mumbai, Thiruvananthapuram, Tiruchirappalli and Mangaluru, with the Mangaluru–Muscat service included in the schedule.

In addition to regular services, the airlines have planned 32 ad-hoc non-scheduled flights between Indian cities and the UAE on March 10, subject to slot availability and operational conditions at respective airports. These flights have been arranged after obtaining necessary approvals from Indian and local regulatory authorities.

Air India will operate 10 additional flights to and from Dubai, including three round trips from Mumbai and two from Delhi. Air India Express will operate one round trip each from Mumbai and Bengaluru to Dubai.

The airline will also operate 18 additional flights to other UAE emirates, including Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah. These include one round trip each to Abu Dhabi from Bengaluru and Mumbai, one round trip each to Sharjah from Bengaluru and Mumbai, and flights to Ras Al Khaimah from Delhi, Bengaluru, Kochi and Mumbai.

Meanwhile, the Air India group has cancelled scheduled flights to several other West Asian destinations until March 13, 2026. Passengers affected by cancellations have been offered the option to rebook for a later date without additional charges or receive a full refund.

Air India passengers can submit rebooking or cancellation requests through the airline’s official website, while Air India Express passengers travelling from UAE stations may rebook on additional commercial flights operating from any UAE airport to destinations in India.