Evacuation drive: AI brought back 143 cockpit and cabin crew members of its and Air India Express flights who had been stranded in Dubai

NEW DELHI: India is working to repatriate thousands of travellers stranded in West Asian countries such as the UAE and Qatar since February 28, using a mix of charters and scheduled flights from nearby open airspace points like Saudi Arabia and Muscat.With scheduled flights cancelled at places like UAE, airports there – including Dubai’s two hubs – are giving charter slots. DGCA Tuesday asked Indian carriers and non-scheduled operators to seek as many as possible. Indian carriers plan 58 flights on March 4, including 30 by IndiGo and 23 by Air India group.“Airlines and non-scheduled operators have been warned not to hike fares. If stranded passengers holding tickets travel on the same airline, no fare difference should be charged,” officials said after a meeting called by DGCA chief Faiz Ahmed Kidwai.The meeting followed a detailed review by the PMO on the West Asia crisis, covering evacuation of Indians and the impact on fuel supply and shipping. Aviation secretary Samir Sinha and senior officials from home, external affairs, defence, petroleum and shipping ministries attended.In coordination with the MEA, Sinha and Kidwai have drawn up a repatriation plan that hinges on the evolving situation. Airlines will give morning and evening updates on charter slots secured from UAE, apart from scheduled flights to Saudi and Muscat.Tuesday evening saw some prominent Indian business leaders fly in one of the first private jet movements allowed to India from Dubai World Central (Dubai’s secondary airport) to Delhi. Being an Indian-registered Bombardier Global 6000, the aircraft had to take the longer route home, bypassing the Pakistan airspace.Air India has begun deploying widebody aircraft, including Boeing 777s and B787s, from Delhi and Mumbai to Jeddah and Dubai, expected to operate at full capacity on return sectors. IndiGo operated flights to Jeddah and Muscat and is working on services to UAE stations. AI Express, SpiceJet and Akasa also operated flights to the region.The primary strategy is recovery of crew and aircraft in West Asia, after which evacuation and passenger recovery flights through Jeddah, Muscat and other airports will scale up, officials added.