Middle East Crisis: SpiceJet lines up 14 special flights for Indians stranded in UAE

Private airline SpiceJet announced on Friday that it will operate special flights from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to India to facilitate the return of Indians stranded in the Middle Eastern country back home. The carrier said it will operate 14 such flights on the same day.

Iran-Israel Conflict | SpiceJet UAE flight details

The airline said that while nine flights, out of the 14, will be from Fujairah to Mumbai, four will be to New Delhi, and one will be from Dubai to Pune.

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Also, out of the total 14, 13 flights will be operated from Fujairah. The remaining one flight will originate from Dubai.

SpiceJet has already operated 25 special flights from the UAE in the past three days, connecting stranded passengers to Delhi, Mumbai and Kochi.

This week, SpiceJet had announced its intent to operate special flights from the UAE to India on March 6 and 7, with additional services planned on March 8 to facilitate passenger movement amid the ongoing regional conflict.

SpiceJet operates a fleet of Boeing 737 and Q-400 aircraft.

Middle East Crisis | Indian flights gradually restoring normalcy in Indian skies

Homegrown airlines like SpiceJet have started to restore their flight operations connecting the Middle East, with thousands of services yet to restart due to continuing airspace restrictions linked to the Israel-Iran conflict.

Situation has remained tense across the Middle East since the US and Israel last week jointly launched an attack against Iran that killed its Supreme Leader and triggered Tehran's retaliatory strikes against several targets in the region. Also, disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz -- a crucial waterway for global trade -- have rattled world markets, including a spike in benchmark oil rates.

Meanwhile, industrial data showed nearly doubling of air traffic at the Dubai International Airport on Thursday compared to the previous day's levels. However, the activity reached about 25 per cent of normal levels.

Aviation regulator DGCA has said it is coordinating with airlines and related agencies to aid smooth operations and assist impacted passengers. It has activated a passenger assistance control room to help stranded travellers.

Authorities are in constant touch with airlines and are closely monitoring airfares to ensure there is no undue surge in ticket prices during this period, according to an official statement.

Here are answers to frequently asked questions (FAQs) on the subject:

Why has SpiceJet announced special flights from the UAE?

The airline is operating special flights to facilitate the return of Indian passengers stranded in the UAE amid disruptions caused by the Middle East conflict.

Which UAE cities will these flights operate from?

Thirteen flights will operate from Fujairah, while one flight will depart from Dubai.

How many special flights will SpiceJet operate?

The airline will operate 14 special flights from the UAE to India in a single day.

Why have India-Middle East flights been disrupted?

Operations have been hurt due to airspace restrictions and security concerns linked to the Israel-Iran conflict.

How many flights are planned for each Indian city?

Out of the total 14 SpiceJet flights, nine will operate from Fujairah to Mumbai, four to New Delhi and one from Dubai to Pune.

What steps has DGCA taken to help passengers?

The DGCA has set up a passenger assistance control room and is coordinating with airlines to support stranded travellers.

Are flight ticket prices being monitored?

Yes. Authorities are closely monitoring airfares to prevent any undue surge during the disruption.