India’s largest airline IndiGo announced on 6 March that it will operate a slim schedule of flights to five Gulf destinations—including Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah—on 7 March as regional airspace gradually reopens. At the same time, the carrier extended its full-fee waiver on cancellations and rebookings for all Middle East and Istanbul routes through 31 March 2026, giving customers additional flexibility while security conditions remain volatile.(timesofindia.indiatimes.com)
IndiGo said affected passengers can reschedule travel or claim refunds online without penalties. The airline’s social-media team is contacting ticket-holders directly and urging travellers not to go to airports unless they have received confirmation. Despite the partial restart, IndiGo cancelled 144 international sectors scheduled for 7 March, underscoring the fragility of the situation.(hindustantimes.com)
![IndiGo resumes limited Gulf services and extends free change/cancellation waivers until 31 March]()
Amid such uncertainty, travelers may face shifting visa regulations as well as flight schedules. VisaHQ’s India portal (https://www.visahq.com/india/) lets passengers quickly verify up-to-date entry rules for Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and other Gulf hubs, and apply online for visas or transit permits in a few clicks—providing a convenient back-up when airline plans change unexpectedly.
The move mirrors similar policies from Air India and Air India Express and highlights how Indian carriers are balancing humanitarian repatriation needs with commercial realities. For corporate mobility planners, the waiver window provides breathing space to re-route executives or delay non-essential trips without incurring additional fare costs. Companies should, however, continue to monitor real-time advisories, since slot allocations and security assessments can shift with little notice.
IndiGo said affected passengers can reschedule travel or claim refunds online without penalties. The airline’s social-media team is contacting ticket-holders directly and urging travellers not to go to airports unless they have received confirmation. Despite the partial restart, IndiGo cancelled 144 international sectors scheduled for 7 March, underscoring the fragility of the situation.(hindustantimes.com)
Amid such uncertainty, travelers may face shifting visa regulations as well as flight schedules. VisaHQ’s India portal (https://www.visahq.com/india/) lets passengers quickly verify up-to-date entry rules for Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and other Gulf hubs, and apply online for visas or transit permits in a few clicks—providing a convenient back-up when airline plans change unexpectedly.
The move mirrors similar policies from Air India and Air India Express and highlights how Indian carriers are balancing humanitarian repatriation needs with commercial realities. For corporate mobility planners, the waiver window provides breathing space to re-route executives or delay non-essential trips without incurring additional fare costs. Companies should, however, continue to monitor real-time advisories, since slot allocations and security assessments can shift with little notice.
