Dubai has restricted foreign airlines to one daily flight to its airports until 31 May due to the Iran crisis, raising fears of significant revenue losses for Indian carriers, industry letters show.
In a private email to airlines on 27 March, Dubai Airports said carriers would be allowed one round trip per day to Dubai International Airport (DXB), normally the world’s busiest international travel hub, and the smaller Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC).
The restrictions will last throughout the summer season between 20 April and 31 May, extending restrictions implemented after the war began.
The Federation of Indian Airlines (FIA), which represents IndiGo, Air India and SpiceJet, has urged New Delhi to press Dubai authorities to lift the curbs. Failing that, it called for reciprocal measures against UAE carriers including Emirates and flydubai.
The group said the restrictions were not being applied equally to Dubai-based airlines, creating an uneven playing field that could lead to “substantial” financial losses.
Indian carriers are already facing mounting challenges, including higher fuel costs and longer flight routes after being barred from using Pakistani airspace following military tensions between the two countries.
The energy crisis is rooted in escalating tensions around the Strait of Hormuz, widely regarded as the world’s most critical energy chokepoint.
According to the International Energy Agency, roughly a quarter of global seaborne oil trade passes through the narrow waterway, along with a significant share of global liquefied natural gas shipments, making disruptions there a major driver of global economic instability.
Recent weeks have seen a sharp decline in shipping traffic through the Strait, with volumes falling to a fraction of normal levels amid the conflict.
The disruption has contributed to rising oil prices and increased volatility across global energy markets, adding to cost pressures already facing airlines.
The latest curbs are expected to hit Indian carriers the hardest, given their dominant presence in Dubai. India was the largest source of passengers for Dubai’s main airport in 2025, with 11.9 million travellers passing through the hub.
According to aviation data firm Cirium, Air India Express and Air India had scheduled more than 750 flights into Dubai for April and May, while IndiGo planned 481 flights. By comparison, Saudia and Gulf Air had planned 480 and 404 flights respectively, and SpiceJet 61.
Under the new cap, foreign airlines would be limited to around 30-31 flights per month, a sharp reduction from previous schedules.
IndiGo said the restrictions had “significantly constrained” its operations, noting it had planned up to 15 daily flights between India and Dubai for the summer season.
Several international carriers, including Lufthansa, Singapore Airlines and British Airways, have suspended flights to Dubai until at least 31 May, citing the regional situation.
Some airlines are instead increasing non-stop Asia-Europe services to capitalise on strong passenger demand and rising fares.
The dispute also reflects long-standing tensions over bilateral air service agreements, with Gulf carriers arguing that India limits seat capacity, while New Delhi maintains such measures are needed to protect domestic airlines in a highly competitive market.
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Pakistan‑brokered talks between the U.S., Israel and Iran get underway today as disagreements continue over the two‑week ceasefire, including Israel‑Hezbollah conflict and Iran’s handling of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz after President Donald Trump warned the terms were being misapplied.
As Islamabad prepares to host crucial talks between the U.S. and Iran this Sunday, hopes for a sustained peace remain fragile, with fresh Israeli strikes in Lebanon casting doubt over already delicate negotiations.
The U.S. and Iran are meeting in Pakistan under a fragile ceasefire but remain deeply divided over Tehran’s nuclear programme, sanctions and regional security. With fighting in Lebanon escalating, the talks face mounting pressure.
A French fashion label is placing China at the heart of its global ambitions, choosing Shanghai for its worldwide debut in a move that shows growing confidence in the country’s consumer market and cultural influence.
China and Russia vetoed a United Nations Security Council resolution on Tuesday aimed at coordinating defensive efforts to protect commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, leaving no agreed international framework for securing the vital route.
Lebanon’s Hezbollah said it had stopped firing on northern Israel and Israeli forces on Wednesday as part of a two-week ceasefire in the Middle East brokered between the United States and Iran. However, a Hezbollah lawmaker warned that the pause could collapse if Tel Aviv does not adhere to it.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he has given an instruction for Israel to begin peace talks with Lebanon that would also include the disarming of Hezbollah.
Some geographies are small on the map yet immense in history. The Strait of Hormuz is one. About a quarter of global oil trade and a fifth of LNG flows pass through this narrow corridor - around 20 million barrels per day sustaining the global system.
Afghanistan and Pakistan have agreed to continue dialogue and avoid steps that could worsen tensions after China-hosted talks in Urumqi, with Kabul and Beijing saying the meetings focused on easing differences and improving relations.
Flag carrier Vietnam Airlines plans to cancel 23 flights per week across several domestic routes from April because of looming jet fuel shortages, Vietnam's aviation authority said.
The pilot and co-pilot of an Air Canada Express regional jet were killed after it collided with a fire truck while landing at New York's LaGuardia airport late on Sunday, in an incident that closed the airport, authorities and U.S. media said.
The ongoing conflict involving Iran is set to disrupt global travel on a massive scale, with nearly 28 million outbound trips from the Middle East at risk this year, according to Oxford Economics.
The Colosseum in Rome has reopened its southern corridors as a public square following a four-year restoration, giving visitors free access to a long-lost part of the ancient monument. The newly restored area was unveiled on Tuesday (17 March).
The escalating conflict between the U.S., Israel and Iran is already hitting the Middle East travel and tourism sector hard, with the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) estimating losses of at least $600 million per day in international visitor spending.
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