17 March,2026 12:17 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondent
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Air India on Tuesday announced that it will operate 36 additional flights connecting India with key destinations in Europe and North America between March 19 and March 28, citing a surge in international travel demand amid ongoing geopolitical developments in the West Asia region, reported news agency IANS.
The airline said the extra services will operate from Delhi and Mumbai to major global hubs, including London (Heathrow), Toronto, Frankfurt and Zurich. The move is expected to add more than 10,000 seats across these routes, providing relief to passengers at a time when international connectivity remains under pressure, reported IANS.
According to the airline, the additional flights will run on key sectors such as Delhi-London (Heathrow), Mumbai-London (Heathrow), Delhi-Frankfurt, Delhi-Zurich and Delhi-Toronto, strengthening its long-haul network during a period of heightened demand, reported IANS.
This latest announcement comes shortly after Air India operated 78 additional flights on nine international routes between March 10 and March 18 to address a similar spike in demand. The airline indicated that the continued increase in capacity is part of its broader effort to stabilise operations and accommodate passengers amid fluctuating travel conditions.
Bookings for the newly announced flights are being rolled out progressively across all platforms, including the airline's official website, mobile application and authorised travel agents.
Air India stated that the decision to deploy additional flights is linked to evolving geopolitical conditions in West Asia, which have impacted global travel patterns and route availability. Restrictions in certain airspaces have forced airlines to take longer routes, thereby affecting schedules, operational efficiency and seat availability.
To address these challenges, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) recently granted temporary relaxation in flight duty time limitations for Air India's long-haul operations to Europe, the United States and Canada. This allows the airline to manage extended flight durations caused by rerouted paths.
Meanwhile, IndiGo has also adjusted its international operations in response to the situation. The airline announced plans to operate 252 weekly flights to and from West Asia between March 16 and March 28, including 126 flights to Saudi Arabia, 98 to the United Arab Emirates and 28 to Oman, reported IANS.
However, IndiGo confirmed that services to several destinations - including Doha, Kuwait, Bahrain, Dammam, Fujairah, Ras Al Khaimah and Sharjah - will remain temporarily suspended until March 28 as part of network adjustments, reported IANS.
With geopolitical tensions continuing to influence global aviation, airlines are increasingly recalibrating their schedules and capacities to meet changing passenger demand. Air India's additional flights are expected to ease congestion on busy international routes while offering travellers more flexibility during a period of uncertainty.
(With inputs from IANS)
