New Delhi [India], April 20, 2026: As the two-week ceasefire window in West Asia
inches closer to the end on April 22, India has evacuated over 11 lakh passengers
from the region through continuous flight ops from various countries in the region, to
alternate routes.
The details were shared by Aseem Mahajan, Joint Secretary (Gulf) in the Ministry of
External Affairs, during an inter-ministerial press briefing here in the national capital
on Monday.
Mahajan said that flights continue to operate from the region to India from countries
where airspace is open. “Since February 28th, around 11,30,000 passengers have
travelled from the region to India. Airlines continue to operate limited commercial
flights based on operational and safety considerations between the UAE and India.
Around 110 flights are expected to operate from the UAE to India today.”
He added that flights are operating from various airports in Saudi Arabia and Oman
to different destinations in India. With the Qatar airspace partially open. Today, Qatar
Airways is expected to operate around 10 to 11 flights to various destinations in
India.
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He said that while Bahrain airspace is open, Gulf Air of Bahrain has announced that
they are planning to start limited flight operations from Bahrain to India. Gulf Air is
operating non-scheduled commercial flights from Dammam Airport in Saudi Arabia to
various destinations in India.
Mahajan told the media during the briefing that the Iranian airspace remains partially
open for cargo and chartered flights.
“Our embassy in Tehran continues to facilitate the movement of Indian
nationals through Armenia and Azerbaijan for onward travel to India. So far,
2,423 Indian nationals have moved out of Iran into Armenia and Azerbaijan. This
includes 1,091 Indian students and 657 Indian fishermen”, he said.
Mahajan also informed that the Iraqi airspace is open with limited flight operations to
destinations in the region, which can be used for onward travel to India.
With the Kuwait airspace closed, he said that Jazeera Airways and Kuwait Airways
continue to operate non-scheduled commercial flights from Dammam airport of Saudi
Arabia to various destinations in India.
The Joint Secretary said that the Israeli airspace is open and limited flight operations
have resumed to destinations in the region, which can be used for onward travel to
India. He informed during the briefing that India continues to facilitate travel of Indian
nationals from Israel through Jordan and Egypt to India.
Underlining that India continues to monitor the developments in the Gulf and West
Asia region, he said that efforts focus on ensuring the safety, security, and welfare of
the large Indian community in the region.
Mahajan told the media that a dedicated special control room in the Ministry is
operational and is working in close coordination with our missions and posts that are
operating round-the-clock helplines to provide timely assistance and address queries.
Mahajan assured that high priority is being given to the welfare of Indian seafarers in
the region.
“Our missions are extending all assistance to them, including coordination with the
local authorities and agencies, extending consular assistance, and assisting with
requests to return to India,” he said.
As the security situation continues to evolve in the region, MEA Spokesperson
Randhir Jaiswal, during the inter-ministerial briefing, informed about the visit of
National Security Advisor Ajit Doval to Saudi Arabia, and said that a positive meeting
was held on regional issues and enhancing bilateral ties.
With millions of Indian expatriates living in the Gulf and a heavy reliance on the
region for energy imports, the MEA highlighted that active contact with stakeholders,
including Israel, Palestine, and Iran, is essential to protect India’s “strategic and
economic interests” during this unprecedented period of geopolitical realignment.