India is executing a massive, calibrated effort to bring its citizens home as the Middle East conflict enters its second week. On Saturday, March 7, 2026, the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) released data showing that despite the chaos in regional skies, Indian carriers are successfully navigating “safe corridors.”
With 7,205 passengers arriving on Thursday across 40 flights, the government is shifting its focus from simple evacuation to maintaining a steady, orderly flow of commercial traffic, even as the “drone and missile waves” continue to shut down neighboring airspaces.
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Flight Operations: March 5 vs. March 6 Outlook
The ministry is pushing for increased capacity while balancing the extreme risks posed by the ongoing Iran-US-Israel exchange.
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March 5 Performance: 40 flights operated, bringing the cumulative arrival count to nearly 15,000.
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March 6 Plan: 51 flights were scheduled for Friday, though their completion remains “subject to operational feasibility” given the fluid nature of the combat zones.
MoCA Intervention: Airfare Caps and AirSewa Support
Recognizing that desperation can lead to exploitation, the ministry has taken a firm stance on ticket pricing.
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Fare Monitoring: MoCA is in “continuous contact” with airlines to ensure that ticket prices do not see an “undue surge.”
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Grievance Redressal: The AirSewa portal and social media teams have already addressed 1,461 grievances, ranging from refund delays to rebooking requests for cancelled flights.
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The Scale of Disruption: 281 Cancellations
While the 40 arrivals are a positive sign, they represent only a fraction of the usual traffic.
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Thursday’s Toll: 281 scheduled flights were cancelled as airlines deemed certain routes over Iran and Iraq too dangerous to traverse.
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Operational Adjustments: Carriers like Air India and IndiGo are rerouting flights through Central Asian corridors, which significantly increases flight time and fuel consumption.
Passenger Assistance: The PACR Control Room
To provide real-time support, a dedicated Passenger Assistance Control Room (PACR) is now functioning 24/7.
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Real-Time Help: The PACR coordinates directly with airline stakeholders to find alternative seats for those stuck in hubs like Dubai, Muscat, and Doha.
Reality Check
The arrival of 7,000+ passengers is a logistical victory. Still, with 281 cancellations in a single day, thousands more remain stranded across the Gulf. Therefore, while the ministry claims to be monitoring airfares, the “natural” cost of rerouted flights (some now 3-4 hours longer) is already pushing prices higher for new bookings. In fact, the “safety corridors” are narrow, and any further escalation in missile waves could see the arrival numbers drop to zero overnight.
The Loopholes
The ministry says it is monitoring “undue surges.” In fact, this is a “Base Fare Loophole”—airlines may keep the base fare stable but increase “ancillary charges” or fuel surcharges due to the longer flight paths. Therefore, the final price a passenger pays may still be significantly higher than pre-conflict rates. Still, the “Operational Feasibility Loophole” remains; by stating that flights are subject to “prevailing conditions,” airlines can cancel at the last minute with no penalty, leaving passengers to navigate the chaos of airport terminals on their own.
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What This Means for You
If you have family members in the Middle East, stay in constant touch with the airline’s local office. First, realize that flight schedules are being updated in “real-time,” and an app notification may be delayed by several hours. Then, if you are booking a ticket home, understand that Delhi and Mumbai airports are currently experiencing high volume, so expect delays in baggage claim and immigration upon arrival.
Finally, understand that AirSewa is your primary weapon for refunds. You should document all cancellation notices and use the portal to escalate if an airline refuses a full refund for a war-related cancellation. Before you travel to the airport, check the official X (Twitter) handle of the Ministry of Civil Aviation for the daily list of cancelled vs. operated flight numbers.
What’s Next
The MoCA’s next data set for March 6-7 will be released tomorrow. Then, look for a potential “Rescue Mission” announcement if the 51 planned flights fail to operate due to further Tehran counter-strikes. Finally, expect DGCA to issue a new “Insurance Advisory” for airlines, as the cost of flying into a war zone is likely to impact long-term ticket prices for the summer season.
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