Indian Embassy in Qatar tells stranded short-term visitors to self-register as flights remain disrupted
Dubai mission confirms visa-fine waiver and stay extensions for Indians stranded by UAE air-space closure
Air India and Air India Express schedule 50 special flights to six Gulf cities on 7 March
Latest News
7,205 passengers brought home on 5 March; 51 more flights planned as India monitors Gulf airfares
Government figures show 40 India-bound flights from the Gulf brought back 7,205 passengers on 5 March, with 51 more services filed for 6 March. The civil-aviation ministry is monitoring ticket prices and operating a round-the-clock help-desk as evacuations continue.
Middle-East Crisis Grounds 175 Flights at India’s Busiest Hubs
A sudden spike in Iran-Israel hostilities forced the closure of key Gulf airspaces on 6 March, leading to 175 flight cancellations across Mumbai, Delhi and Bengaluru. Thousands of travellers and significant cargo volumes were affected, prompting airlines to reroute via longer, costlier paths and businesses to invoke travel-disruption contingencies.
Air India Offers Free Re-booking and Full Refunds as West-Asia Turmoil Drags On
Air India extended its waiver policy on 6 March, offering free date changes and full refunds for Middle-East-linked itineraries booked before 28 February. While limited services to Jeddah and Muscat have resumed, most Gulf routes stay suspended, and the carrier is adding rescue flights and extra capacity on Europe/North America detours.
SpiceJet Launches 14 Special UAE–India Flights to Repatriate Stranded Nationals
Responding to Gulf airspace closures, SpiceJet is running 14 emergency flights on 6 March from the UAE (mainly Fujairah and Dubai) to Mumbai, Delhi and Pune. The services cap fares at INR 20,000 and waive baggage fees, giving stranded Indian nationals and corporates a vital exit route.
Australia Doubles Post-Study Work Visa Fee; Indian Graduates Face INR 3 Lakh Bill
Australia raised the Temporary Graduate (Subclass 485) visa fee to AUD 4,600 from 1 March—doubling the cost to about INR 3 lakh. The sudden increase hits Indian students disproportionately and may prompt universities and employers to revisit mobility budgets and destination choices.
UK Overhauls Immigration Rules: ‘Visa Brake’ and Tougher Salary Checks Could Squeeze Indian Skilled Workers
The UK’s latest Immigration Rules update, published 6 March, introduces a ‘Visa Brake’ for rapid policy shifts, demands that Skilled Workers hit salary thresholds in every pay period, and broadens mandatory refusal grounds. Indian employers and assignees will need stricter payroll compliance and should prepare for potentially faster rule changes.