In the wake of regional airspace closures that disrupted hundreds of flights, special charter flights are being organized to help stranded passengers return to India from the UAE. The airspace restrictions have caused significant delays, leaving thousands of travelers, including tourists and transit passengers, in need of alternative transportation.

The flight cancellations, caused by the ongoing regional tensions, have impacted visitors to the UAE and those passing through the country. With only a limited number of regular flights resuming operations, charter operators have stepped in to provide travelers with alternative flight options.

Subair Thekepurathvalappil, Senior Manager at Wisefox Travels, explained that travel agencies are playing a key role in assisting passengers by connecting them with charter operators. "Several operators are offering charter flights, and we are helping passengers secure seats," he said. These flights are especially crucial for tourists who have been stranded after their original bookings were canceled.

Prices for charter flights are currently starting at Dh2,500, although some posts on social media have reported prices as high as Dh7,000 for seats on private charter jets. These premium options are catering to those who are unable to find space on regular flights.

Bharath Aidasani, a travel agent, noted that demand for charter services has increased significantly as passengers look for urgent travel options. "We've seen a surge in inquiries from those wanting to return home to India," he said. However, he pointed out that only a limited number of charter flights are available, and service to all Indian cities is not guaranteed.

"The demand for charter flights has been growing since the disruption," said Safeer Mohammed, General Manager at Smart Travels. "Currently, tickets for a one-way flight to India are starting at Dh2,500. Flights from Fujairah to various Indian cities are available."

Mohammed believes that as regular flights gradually resume, demand for charter services will decrease. "Those who need to travel urgently are willing to pay higher prices, but demand should decline over the next few days. As more flights become available, we expect prices to drop, and we hope that by Eid, the backlog will be cleared."

For many travelers, charter flights have been a welcome solution. Rajiv M, a tourist from Karnataka, was one of those affected by the disruption. "I arrived in Dubai in late February for a short holiday and was supposed to return to Bengaluru shortly after. But after the disruptions, my flight was canceled, and I had to extend my stay," he shared.

"At first, it was stressful because we didn't know when flights would resume. But thanks to travel agents, we were kept informed and given options. We're thankful that charter flights are now available to help people get home."

Anita Sharma, who traveled to the UAE for a family function, was also impacted by the airspace issue. "My flight was scheduled for Sunday, but it was canceled due to the airspace situation," she said. "We had to stay longer and keep checking for available flights. It has been difficult, but now that charter options are available, we are relieved to finally be able to go home."

The surge in demand has also caused ticket prices for charter flights to rise dramatically. Noushad Hassan, Managing Director of Alhind Business Center, noted that prices for some flights have more than doubled in just a few days. "Some tickets that were previously priced at Dh1,700 are now being sold for Dh3,000," he said. "Demand has been driving prices up every day, as people are willing to pay to secure a seat."

Hassan also advised passengers not to panic and only travel if absolutely necessary. "There's no reason to travel unless it's urgent. The UAE remains safe, and prices will likely return to normal as the airspace fully reopens," he said.

As the demand for charter services remains high, many passengers continue to seek these alternatives, hoping for a swift resolution and a return to regular flight operations.

Source: khaleejtimes

Air travel across Italy was disrupted on Friday after a technical fault affected the country’s air traffic control systems, resulting in flight delays and cancellations.

Air traffic control provider ENAV said it had introduced temporary restrictions on air traffic capacity after detecting overnight anomalies in the data transmission network supporting air traffic services nationwide.

Authorities said the disruption was not caused by sabotage and confirmed that the technical issue had been resolved later in the day.

Data from aviation analytics company Cirium showed that 192 flights had been cancelled by around 1000 GMT. At the same time, only about 31% of departures from Italian airports were leaving on schedule.

The situation was particularly challenging at the country’s major airports. On-time departures stood at approximately 25% at Milan Malpensa Airport and 28% at Rome Fiumicino Airport.

ENAV announced at around 1325 GMT that it had restored full operational capacity, bringing the technical disruption to an end.

Source: Reuters

Saudi telecom operator STC Group is offering free, unlimited calls to and from Saudi Arabia for customers roaming overseas, helping travellers maintain contact with their families amid continuing flight disruptions.

Announced on X, the initiative runs from October 12 to October 19. STC said the offer was intended to support customers facing difficulties staying connected with loved ones during an uncertain period.

“We understand how difficult it can be to be away from family, particularly during times like these,” the company told Arab News.

STC added that free, unlimited calling would make it easier for customers outside the Kingdom to communicate with relatives and provide reassurance during the disruption.

The initiative comes as flights to and from Riyadh face interruptions following a recent attack on King Khalid International Airport.

On Monday, Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation announced on X that the airport’s operational suspension had been extended to allow safety inspections of its facilities to be completed. The authority did not provide a timeline for the resumption of flights.

Traveller Welcomes Initiative but Calls for Free Internet

Hisham Al-Ghasim, a Saudi citizen whose return journey from Bangkok to Riyadh was disrupted, welcomed STC’s offer but said free internet access would have been more practical.

His existing mobile package already covered calls, while internet connectivity was important for arranging alternative travel, making bookings and accessing essential applications.

He told Arab News that providing unrestricted internet access instead of free calls would have been more useful because many everyday communications and travel arrangements depend on online services.

Al-Ghasim had completed a business trip to Bangkok and was waiting for a taxi when he received a notification that his return flight had been delayed.

He said he was informed that his departure had been postponed by three days. Although he had been following developments, he had not expected his flight booking to be cancelled.

His original itinerary involved an Emirates flight via Dubai to Riyadh. He subsequently arranged to end his journey in the United Arab Emirates instead.

After reaching Dubai, Al-Ghasim contacted the Saudi Consulate General, which offered assistance with returning to the Kingdom by road through organised group transport.

Saudi Missions Assist Stranded Citizens

Saudi embassies and consulates have also been helping citizens affected by flight cancellations associated with regional security developments.

Their support includes arranging emergency accommodation and helping travellers identify alternative routes to return home as aviation disruptions continue.

Source: Arab News

flydubai has cancelled all flights to Riyadh until October 14, the airline confirmed in a statement.

A spokesperson said the carrier is monitoring the situation in coordination with the relevant authorities and will notify passengers of any changes to flight schedules through its official communication channels.

Passengers affected by the cancellations have been advised to visit the Manage Booking section on the airline’s website, flydubai.com, to review available refund or rebooking options.

Customers who purchased tickets through travel agents should contact their agents directly for assistance.

The airline apologised to passengers for the inconvenience caused by the disruption and said it would continue to provide updates through its official channels.

Source: Emirates247

Qatar Airways has temporarily suspended services to Riyadh and Dammam, issuing a travel alert for passengers travelling to the two Saudi Arabian destinations.

The Qatari airline said it was monitoring developments in Saudi Arabia in coordination with the relevant authorities. In response to the evolving situation, the carrier halted flights to both cities until further notice.

Passengers have been urged to verify their flight status through the airline’s official website or mobile application before travelling.

Qatar Airways said the safety of passengers and crew remains its highest priority. The airline added that customers affected by the suspensions would be contacted directly, with additional updates published on its website as more information becomes available.

Source: QNA

Several UAE airlines have cancelled flights to Saudi Arabia, disrupting services to Riyadh and Dammam between October 10 and October 14, according to airline announcements and published flight schedules.

Flydubai confirmed that its flights between Dubai and Riyadh would remain cancelled through October 14. The airline said it was monitoring developments in coordination with the relevant authorities and would communicate further schedule changes through its official channels.

Passengers affected by the cancellations have been advised to visit the Manage Booking section on flydubai’s website to review available refund and rebooking options. Customers who purchased tickets through travel agents should contact their respective agents for assistance. The airline also apologised for the inconvenience caused by the changes.

Etihad Airways has cancelled selected flights between Zayed International Airport in Abu Dhabi and King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh for the period from October 10 to October 12.

Emirates has also recorded cancellations on several services between Dubai and Riyadh on October 11 and 12. Disruptions extended to flights connecting Dubai with Dammam on October 11.

For October 12, Emirates' published schedules listed flights EK823 and EK821 between Dubai and Dammam as cancelled, while flight EK827 remained scheduled to operate.

The cancellations reflect schedule adjustments by multiple UAE carriers serving Saudi Arabia during the affected period.

Airlines have advised passengers to monitor official communication channels for the latest flight information and to contact their carriers or travel agents to discuss available options if their journeys have been affected.

Source: Emirates247