Dubai restricts foreign flights until May 31, Indian carriers hit hard

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Dubai restricts foreign flights until May 31, 2026, Indian carriers hit hard

April 10, 2026

Dubai restricts foreign flights until May 31, Indian carriers hit hard — Air India aircraft. Photo: Creative Commons/Ethan Sarkar/pexels

DUBAI,— Dubai has limited foreign airlines to one daily flight at its airports through May 31, 2026, a restriction tied to the Iran crisis that is pushing Indian carriers toward steep financial losses, internal documents reviewed by Reuters show.

India is the most affected country. Its airlines had planned more flights to Dubai than airlines from any other country.

However, the limits apply only to foreign airlines, while Dubai-based Emirates and flydubai can continue operating their full schedules, documents show.

The Federation of Indian Airlines (FIA), took the matter to the Indian government in a March 31 letter, urging officials to push Dubai authorities to scrap the limits.

If that effort fails, the FIA asked India to consider matching restrictions on Emirates and flydubai. The group represents India’s three biggest carriers: IndiGo, Air India and SpiceJet.

The situation adds to an already difficult stretch for Indian aviation. Pakistan shut its airspace to Indian airlines last year following military tensions between the two neighbors, forcing carriers onto longer, costlier routes to Western destinations.

Higher jet fuel prices have compounded that burden.

Dubai Airports laid out the new terms in a private March 27 email to airlines, reviewed by Reuters.

Foreign carriers would be held to one daily round trip at both Dubai International Airport, the world’s busiest international travel hub, and the smaller Al Maktoum International Airport between April 20 and May 31.

“Additional slots will be allocated if capacity is available,” the email stated.

Photo: Creative Commons/Andrew Cutajar/pexels

Dubai Airports and the Dubai media office did not respond to repeated requests for comment. Flydubai said relevant authorities had approved its schedules. Emirates did not comment.

The stakes for India are considerable. The country was Dubai International Airport’s largest single source of passengers in 2025, with 11.9 million travelers passing through, Reuters reported.

Flight data from aviation analytics firm Cirium show Indian carriers dominated the April-May Dubai schedule more than any other foreign country.

Air India and its low-cost unit Air India Express together had over 750 Dubai flights planned for that stretch. IndiGo had booked 481. Saudia was next at 480, followed by Gulf Air at 404. SpiceJet had scheduled 61 flights.

A one-flight-per-day ceiling translates to around 30 or 31 monthly departures per foreign airline, a fraction of the daily volume Emirates and flydubai continue to operate, Flightradar24 data show.

IndiGo told Reuters the curbs had “significantly constrained” its operations, noting the airline held an approved summer schedule of 15 daily flights between India and Dubai.

“A significant portion of IndiGo’s capacity and aircraft time is currently underutilized,” the carrier said, marking its first public remarks on the crisis.

Air India Express told Reuters the restrictions had “significantly curtailed” its planned services despite strong traveler demand on India-UAE routes.

Passengers in smaller Indian cities faced the sharpest drop in options, it said, calling for a “fair and reciprocal operating framework.”

Air India, SpiceJet and Indian government officials did not respond to comment requests.

European and Asian carriers including Lufthansa, Singapore Airlines and British Airways, which operated fewer Dubai flights than Indian airlines before the crisis, canceled all Dubai service through at least May 31.

Those carriers are redirecting aircraft to Asia-Europe non-stop routes, where surging demand is driving up fares.

(With files from Reuters)