Air India Express resumes Qatar, Bahrain flights; boosts Gulf services amid fragile ceasefire in West Asia
Air India Express said on Thursday that it will continue to serve Qatar and Bahrain from April 30, 2026, and increase flight frequencies to UAE, Oman and Saudi Arabia.
“Flights have resumed from major Indian metros and regional gateways including Amritsar, Bengaluru, Delhi, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Kochi, Kozhikode, Kannur, Lucknow, Mangaluru, Mumbai, Tiruchirappalli, Thiruvananthapuram and Varanasi.” Air India Express he said in a statement.
“Air India Express will continue to serve Al Ain, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Ras Al Khaimah, Sharjah, Jeddah, Riyadh and Muscat, with the reinstatement of established routes connecting India to the Gulf region,” the airline added.
As a Tata Enterprise, Air India Express operates over 500 daily flights connecting 45 domestic hubs to 17 international destinations in South, Southeast and West Asia. The carrier operates a fleet of more than 100 Boeing 737 and Airbus A320 aircraft. Other major airlines like Air India and indigoIt is also preparing to restart comprehensive operations at Doha’s Hamad International Airport from May 1.
This restoration took place exactly two months after the launch of ‘Operation Epic Rage’ on February 28, 2026. This joint US-Israeli military offensive, targeting the Iranian leadership and nuclear sites, led to a major regional conflict.
“Indian carriers plan to continue their operations at Doha Hamad International Airport as flight operations continue to expand. Air India, Air India Express and Indigo plan to resume flight services between Doha and various destinations in India from 1 May 2026,” the Indian Embassy in Doha, Qatar, X said.
The embassy emphasized that this aviation expansion is a synchronized effort involving various international aviation organizations rather than an isolated initiative.
Although flights resumed on May 1, the Embassy warned that schedules would remain “subject to coordination with the relevant authorities” and noted that stability in the Middle East in 2026 requires constant negotiation. Travelers are encouraged to remain proactive by staying in touch with airlines for live updates on schedules, terminal changes and booking statuses.
Qatar remained in the middle of the conflict despite mediation efforts. Iran’s attacks on March 18 jeopardized 17% of Qatar’s LNG capacity at Ras Laffan, halting the energy and aviation sectors. As a result, Qatari airspace was restricted mostly to commercial aircraft for approximately sixty days; Hamad International Airport (DOH) has been limited to emergency and evacuation duties since March.
The delicate two-week ceasefire negotiated in Islamabad in mid-April and recently extended by President Trump created a “safety window” sufficient for commercial insurers to approve the return of global airlines. The resumption of flights to India, which represents a neutral but important regional presence, acts as a “soft” stabilizing force that will help revive the regional economy as nuclear negotiations remain deadlocked in Islamabad.
Asia and Europe could see jet fuel shortages in coming months, IATA chief says
Willie Walsh, president of global airline association IATA, warned on Wednesday of possible jet fuel shortages in Asia and Europe in the coming months. He stated that the excessive increase in fuel expenditures was reflected on passengers through increased ticket prices.
Jet fuel, which represents a large portion of airline overhead, has seen prices rise due to supply chain disruptions and geopolitical volatility resulting from the ongoing Middle East conflict.
“Everyone is watching what’s happening with jet fuel – both supply and pricing. On the supply side, we could see shortages over the next few months in parts of the world that are highly dependent on supplies from the Gulf, particularly Asia and Europe,” IATA Director General Walsh said in a statement. he said.
In a significant leadership change, Walsh is scheduled to leave his post at IATA this August to become CEO of India’s largest airline, IndiGo. He will take over interim leadership following the resignation of former CEO Pieter Elbers earlier this year.
According to Walsh, the financial burden of these “extraordinarily high” fuel costs is now becoming the primary reason for increased airfares.
“While this has not affected March traffic or forward bookings so far, it remains to be seen at what point higher prices may start to change passenger behaviour. So far the summer is shaping up to be a normally busy period for travel. This is positive news, but the airline’s resilience is being tested and stabilization of fuel supply and price is crucial,” he said.
