US May Visa Bulletin 2026 freezes employment-based green cards for India, warns of possible EB-5 retrogression
India–UK Free Trade Agreement slated for May launch promises smoother short-term visas for business travellers
Indian delegation heads to Washington as interim trade pact talks revive—services mobility high on agenda
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Indian Embassy in Kuwait suspends Saudi transit-visa facilitation ahead of Hajj; travellers told to reroute or apply directly
The Indian Embassy in Kuwait has halted its popular service for obtaining Saudi transit visas, citing the Hajj season. Indians transiting via Saudi airports must now secure visas directly from airlines or Saudi missions, potentially adding two weeks to travel timelines. Companies should review GCC itineraries and consider alternative hubs such as Dubai or Doha until the facilitation desk reopens, likely after July.
West Asia conflict forces Indian airlines to absorb ₹2,500-crore hit as key Gulf and Europe routes unravel
Indian airlines estimate they have lost about ₹2,500 crore in revenue since Gulf hostilities forced detours around Iranian and Pakistani airspace. The rerouting has slashed Gulf frequencies, lengthened Europe and US flight times by up to five hours and driven fuel costs sharply higher, with foreign competitors moving in to capture traffic. Business travellers should brace for longer journeys and higher fares while carriers lobby New Delhi for relief.
Dubai caps Indian carriers at one flight per day until 31 May, Federation of Indian Airlines seeks reciprocal action
Dubai has extended wartime slot restrictions, limiting every foreign airline—Indian carriers included—to a single daily round-trip until 31 May. The cut slashes more than a thousand planned India-Dubai flights, prompting the Federation of Indian Airlines to demand reciprocal limits on Emirates and flydubai. The move deepens revenue pressure on IndiGo, Air India and SpiceJet and is set to squeeze corporate travel capacity on one of India’s busiest international corridors.
MEA says 100 flights from UAE to India will operate today as repatriation corridor holds despite Gulf turmoil
The MEA reports that around 100 UAE–India flights will operate on 14 April despite regional airspace closures, taking the total evacuated or repatriated from the Gulf to nearly one million since late February. Missions continue to run 24/7 helplines and advise travellers to prepare for last-minute schedule changes.