West Asia war: Flights between India and Riyadh resume; over 1.5 lakh passengers have arrived from Gulf, says MoCA

The MoCA have advised the passengers to stay in touch with their respective airlines for the latest updates. Representational Pic/File

Union Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) on Friday said that flights between India and Riyadh in Saudi Arabia have resumed amid tensions in West Asia.

It said that so far over 1.5 lakh passengers have arrived from Gulf.

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The MoCA said that it is closely monitoring the situation in West Asia and its impact on air travel between India and countries in the region.

Airlines have made operational adjustments in response to the evolving conditions to ensure passenger safety and smooth flight operations, an official statement said.

"During the period February 28 to March 11, a total of 1,50,457 air passengers have travelled from the Gulf countries and safely reached India," the statement said.

Flight services by Indian carriers to and from Riyadh in Saudi Arabia resumed on March 12, 2026.

On the first day of resumed operations -

- Air India and IndiGo operated three flights to Mumbai.

- Air India Express operated one flight to Kozhikode (Calicut).

The resumption of these services has restored important air connectivity between India and Riyadh, it said.

Over 1.5 lakh passengers arrive from Gulf

According to the ministry, over 1.5 lakh passengers have travelled from various Gulf countries to India between February 28 and March 11, 2026.

It said that this reflects the continued movement of travellers despite the ongoing regional tensions.

Dozens of flights scheduled from West Asia

Indian airlines have scheduled 57 inbound flights on March 12 from several cities across the region, including Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Fujairah, Jeddah, Muscat, Ras Al Khaimah, Riyadh and Sharjah.

Officials said these flights will operate subject to operational feasibility and prevailing security conditions.

Government monitoring airfares

The MoCA said it is maintaining close coordination with airlines and other stakeholders to ensure smooth travel for passengers.

Authorities are also monitoring air ticket prices to ensure that fares remain reasonable and that there is no sudden surge during the current situation.

The ministry have advised the passengers to stay in touch with their respective airlines for the latest updates on flight schedules and travel plans.

The government said it will continue to monitor developments in West Asia and will issue further updates if needed.