Air India announces 78 extra flights amid Middle East war—See flight list

Amid the ongoing geopolitical tensions in West Asia that have disrupted several international aviation corridors, Air India has announced a major capacity expansion to help passengers struggling to find reliable travel options. The airline will operate 78 additional international flights between March 10 and March 18, 2026, significantly increasing connectivity between India and key global destinations.

The additional services will operate on nine important routes linking Delhi and Mumbai with cities in Europe, the United States, the Maldives and Sri Lanka, adding 17,660 extra seats to the network during this period. The move comes as airlines across the world adjust routes and schedules due to the unstable situation in parts of West Asia, which has affected flight paths and increased travel demand on alternative routes.

Air India said the decision was taken to ensure passengers continue to have dependable travel options at a time when global aviation networks are under pressure. The airline will deploy a mix of wide-body and narrow-body aircraft across these routes to maintain connectivity and minimise disruptions for travellers heading to major international gateways.

Why Air India is adding 78 extra flights?

The decision to introduce additional flights comes at a time when international travel demand has surged while available flight options remain limited due to the geopolitical situation in West Asia. Many airlines have had to modify flight routes or adjust schedules to avoid sensitive airspace, which has increased travel time and reduced seat availability on certain routes.

By introducing 78 additional flights over nine days, Air India aims to ease the pressure on high-demand routes and provide passengers with more booking options. The extra services are expected to benefit students, professionals, tourists and business travellers who had planned international trips during March but faced difficulty securing seats.

The airline said the move will ensure that passengers travelling between India and major global hubs continue to have reliable connections despite operational challenges in the region.

Routes where Air India has increased capacity

Air India has selected routes where demand is currently the highest and travel options are relatively limited.

United States

• Delhi – New York (JFK)

Europe

• Delhi – London (Heathrow)

• Mumbai – London (Heathrow)

• Delhi – Frankfurt

• Delhi – Paris (CDG)

• Delhi – Amsterdam

• Delhi – Zurich

Neighbouring International Destinations

• Delhi – Malé (Maldives)

• Delhi – Colombo (Sri Lanka)

These routes connect India with major global aviation hubs that serve as gateways to other destinations across Europe and North America.

17,660 additional seats added for travellers

With the launch of these additional services, Air India will add 17,660 seats across nine international routes in both directions during the March 10–18 window.

The extra capacity is expected to significantly ease ticket shortages on routes where travellers had been facing limited availability or high fares due to reduced flight options. Industry observers say airlines often introduce such temporary capacity boosts during periods of operational disruption or sudden demand spikes.

For passengers planning travel in mid-March, the additional flights could provide greater flexibility in choosing travel dates and destinations.

Aircraft Air India will use for these flights

Air India will deploy different aircraft depending on the route and passenger demand.

• Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner will operate most European routes.

• Airbus A320neo aircraft will serve regional routes to Malé and Colombo.

• Boeing 777-300ER aircraft are planned for the New York (JFK) route, subject to regulatory approvals.

Wide-body aircraft such as the Dreamliner and Boeing 777 are typically used on long-haul routes because they can carry more passengers and operate longer distances efficiently.

Safety measures and alternative flight routes

Air India has emphasised that safety remains its top priority despite the challenging geopolitical situation.

According to Nipun Aggarwal, Chief Commercial Officer of Air India, the airline continues to maintain international connectivity by using alternative flight routings that have been thoroughly assessed for safety.

He said the airline remains committed to sustaining scheduled services to Europe and North America while ensuring passengers can continue travelling through safe and reliable flight paths.

The use of alternative routes has become common among global airlines in recent weeks as carriers seek to avoid potentially sensitive airspace in the region.

When these additional flights will operate

The 78 additional flights will operate between March 10 and March 18, 2026.

Some routes will operate on specific days during this period, while others — particularly regional routes such as Delhi–Malé and Delhi–Colombo — will run almost daily flights to meet passenger demand.

Bookings for the additional flights are being opened progressively across various reservation channels, including the airline’s website, mobile application and travel agents.

FAQs

1. When will the additional Air India flights operate?
The extra flights will operate between March 10 and March 18, 2026.

2. How many additional flights has Air India announced?
Air India will operate 78 additional international flights during this period.

3. Which destinations are included in these flights?
Flights will connect India with New York, London, Frankfurt, Paris, Amsterdam, Zurich, Malé and Colombo.

4. How many additional seats have been added?
A total of 17,660 additional seats have been added across nine routes in both directions.

5. Are the New York flights confirmed?
Flights to New York (JFK) will operate subject to regulatory approvals.