Indian low-cost carrier Akasa Air announced on 4 April that it is conducting a ‘live safety assessment’ with a view to restoring flights to Abu Dhabi after a three-week pause triggered by missile activity over the Gulf.
While the airline is hopeful of a staged restart to Zayed International Airport as early as mid-April, it simultaneously prolonged its suspension of services to Doha, Riyadh and Kuwait until 12 April 2026.
Akasa’s statement highlights the operational tightrope all Gulf-bound carriers are walking as the West Asia conflict continues to roil regional airspace.
The carrier confirmed it is still operating Mumbai- and Bengaluru-to-Jeddah rotations, but only along southern air corridors cleared by India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation.
Corporate travel buyers with India–UAE volume are being urged to activate waivers: Akasa will issue full refunds within seven days or rebook passengers at no charge.
![Akasa Air Eyes Abu Dhabi Return but Extends Suspensions on Doha, Riyadh and Kuwait Routes]()
At this juncture it’s also worth remembering that flight disruptions are only half the equation; travellers still need the right paperwork. VisaHQ’s online platform can fast-track UAE visa applications, monitor rule changes and deliver digital approvals straight to a traveller’s inbox, streamlining trips to Abu Dhabi even when itineraries are in flux (https://www.visahq.com/united-arab-emirates/).
For mobility managers the implications are twofold. First, Abu Dhabi capacity could recover quicker than other Gulf gateways because the UAE has demonstrated robust missile-defence coverage, allowing insurers to sign off on narrower no-fly zones. Second, the extended blackout on Qatar, Saudi and Kuwait sectors squeezes already-tight seat supply for South-Asian labour traffic in the run-up to Eid, forcing employers to consider circuitous routings via Muscat or Manama.
Akasa’s cautious rhetoric mirrors a broader recalibration among Indian carriers. IndiGo and Air India Express have likewise trimmed Gulf frequencies, citing war-risk premiums that have doubled since late February.
Until European regulators decide whether to renew EASA Conflict-Zone Bulletin CZIB-2026-03-R5 on 10 April, no carrier is willing to commit to firm schedules beyond rolling 72-hour windows. Mobility practitioners should therefore build contingency budgets for last-minute rerouting, confirm that assignee travel insurance covers war-risk surcharges, and keep employees on flexible tickets.
Akasa says further updates will be released ‘closer to 8 April’—an advisory date worth diarising for programme managers juggling crew changes and project mobilisations across the Gulf.
While the airline is hopeful of a staged restart to Zayed International Airport as early as mid-April, it simultaneously prolonged its suspension of services to Doha, Riyadh and Kuwait until 12 April 2026.
Akasa’s statement highlights the operational tightrope all Gulf-bound carriers are walking as the West Asia conflict continues to roil regional airspace.
The carrier confirmed it is still operating Mumbai- and Bengaluru-to-Jeddah rotations, but only along southern air corridors cleared by India’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation.
Corporate travel buyers with India–UAE volume are being urged to activate waivers: Akasa will issue full refunds within seven days or rebook passengers at no charge.
At this juncture it’s also worth remembering that flight disruptions are only half the equation; travellers still need the right paperwork. VisaHQ’s online platform can fast-track UAE visa applications, monitor rule changes and deliver digital approvals straight to a traveller’s inbox, streamlining trips to Abu Dhabi even when itineraries are in flux (https://www.visahq.com/united-arab-emirates/).
For mobility managers the implications are twofold. First, Abu Dhabi capacity could recover quicker than other Gulf gateways because the UAE has demonstrated robust missile-defence coverage, allowing insurers to sign off on narrower no-fly zones. Second, the extended blackout on Qatar, Saudi and Kuwait sectors squeezes already-tight seat supply for South-Asian labour traffic in the run-up to Eid, forcing employers to consider circuitous routings via Muscat or Manama.
Akasa’s cautious rhetoric mirrors a broader recalibration among Indian carriers. IndiGo and Air India Express have likewise trimmed Gulf frequencies, citing war-risk premiums that have doubled since late February.
Until European regulators decide whether to renew EASA Conflict-Zone Bulletin CZIB-2026-03-R5 on 10 April, no carrier is willing to commit to firm schedules beyond rolling 72-hour windows. Mobility practitioners should therefore build contingency budgets for last-minute rerouting, confirm that assignee travel insurance covers war-risk surcharges, and keep employees on flexible tickets.
Akasa says further updates will be released ‘closer to 8 April’—an advisory date worth diarising for programme managers juggling crew changes and project mobilisations across the Gulf.
