As the aviation corridor over the Middle East remains a “no-fly zone” for many, Air India is stepping up to bridge the gap. On Wednesday, March 4, 2026, the Tata-owned carrier announced a significant expansion of its long-haul services to North America and Europe. The move is designed to provide an alternative for thousands of passengers whose original travel plans via Middle Eastern hubs like Dubai or Doha were shattered by the escalating US-Israel-Iran war.
The “Maharaja” is essentially serving as a primary recovery vehicle for stranded Indian expats and students, leveraging India’s geographic position to fly north of the conflict zone.
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Air India: New Flight Schedule (March 5–11)
To manage the sudden surge in demand, the airline is adding extra “frequencies” on its most popular long-haul sectors:
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Delhi to Toronto: 3 additional flights (March 5 – 11).
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Delhi to Frankfurt: 3 additional flights (March 7 – 10).
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Delhi to Paris (CDG): 1 additional flight (March 7 – 10).
These flights are strategically timed to allow for connections from Air India’s Southeast Asian network, capturing transit passengers who would typically fly via Gulf carriers.
Air India Express & Akasa Air: Middle East Operations
While full-service carriers focus on the West, low-cost carriers are maintaining vital links to the Gulf.
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Air India Express: Has confirmed that Muscat remains a stable hub. It is also operating special flights from Ras Al Khaimah to Kochi, Mumbai, and Delhi until March 7.
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Akasa Air: After a comprehensive safety review, Akasa is “reinstating” select services. It will operate Mumbai-Jeddah and Bengaluru-Jeddah flights starting Thursday, March 5. However, its services to Doha, Kuwait, and Riyadh remain paused for now.
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Rerouting & Technical Stops: The New Normal
For flights that are still operating toward Europe and the US, the flight path has changed drastically.
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Avoiding Airspace: Pilots are now navigating around Iranian and Iraqi airspace, often taking a “Northern Route” over Central Asia.
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Technical Stops: Because these new routes are longer, some aircraft require “technical stops” for refueling in countries like Azerbaijan or Turkey, adding 3–5 hours to the total journey time.
Reality Check
Air India’s move to add flights is a major relief. Still, the ticket prices are likely to be at a premium. Therefore, while the options are increasing, the “cost of travel” for a last-minute seat to Toronto could be 2–3 times higher than usual. In fact, these additional flights are only a temporary fix; if the conflict sustains, the entire Indian aviation industry will face a massive fuel surcharge spike due to the longer flight paths.
The Loopholes
The airline says it is “closely assessing” the situation. In fact, this is a “Capacity Loophole”—by adding flights to Europe and Canada, Air India is successfully poaching high-value passengers from Emirates and Qatar Airways, whose hubs are currently under threat of missile debris. Therefore, the “humanitarian” move is also a savvy commercial capture of market share. Still, the “Ras Al Khaimah Loophole”—using the smaller UAE airport instead of Dubai International—allows Air India Express to keep flying even while Dubai’s main airport faces disruptions.
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What This Means for You
If you are currently stranded or have an upcoming flight, check your booking status every 6 hours. First, realize that if your Gulf-carrier flight (Emirates/Etihad/Qatar) is cancelled, you should check for interline agreements that might allow you to move to an Air India flight. Then, if you are flying to the US or Canada, pack extra snacks and power banks, as your flight may now include an unscheduled 2-hour technical stop for refueling.
Finally, understand that Delhi Airport is extremely crowded. You should arrive at the terminal at least 4 to 5 hours before an international flight to navigate the chaotic check-in lines. Before you cancel a trip, check if your airline is offering a “Full Refund or Free Reschedule”—most carriers operating in the region have activated these policies until March 15.
What’s Next
Air India will decide on extending these extra flights beyond March 11 by this weekend. Then, look for civil aviation authorities (DGCA) to issue a new “Standard Operating Procedure” for flights entering the Middle East. Finally, expect the Indian Government to potentially coordinate “rescue charters” if the situation in Kuwait or Qatar deteriorates further.
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