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India-GCC Aviation Nears Pre-War Levels Despite Ongoing Conflict
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Firstpost•30-09-2026, 17:02
India-GCC Aviation Nears Pre-War Levels Despite Ongoing Conflict
- •A military conflict in West Asia, dubbed Operation Epic Fury and Roaring Lion, began on February 28, 2026, initially closing airspace over the Arabian Peninsula and disrupting flights.
- •Seven months later, despite the ongoing conflict and elevated oil prices, aviation capacity between India and the GCC region is nearly back to pre-war levels, with only a 2.9% dip in weekly departures compared to February.
- •Data from Cirium shows airlines planned 2132 weekly departures currently, compared to 2195 in February, with Available Seat per Mile dropping only 1.3%.
- •Two new Saudi Arabian airlines, Flyadeal and Riyadh Air, have started routes to India, and major Middle Eastern carriers like Emirates, Etihad, and Qatar Airways have reinstated full capacity.
- •Indian carriers IndiGo and Air India have reduced frequencies, partly due to increased fuel prices and the closure of Pakistani airspace for Indian carriers, but are expected to restore capacity for the winter season.
Key Questions Answered
Seven months after the West Asia conflict started on February 28, 2026, weekly departures have nearly returned to normal, with airlines planning 2132 departures compared to 2195 in February, representing a marginal 2.9 percent dip.
Two new airlines from Saudi Arabia launched routes to India during the conflict, with Flyadeal beginning operations in July 2026 and Riyadh Air starting flights in August 2026.
IndiGo and Air India curtailed parts of their networks due to the ongoing closure of Pakistani airspace for Indian carriers since April of last year, combined with increased fuel prices, sliding currency, and elevated operating costs.
