Benoit TREDEZ spoke with Veronique Narayana , director of the Indian travel agency BB Voyages, to get a full update on the air traffic situation between India and Europe on Monday, March 9, 2026. The skies remain extremely disrupted by the conflict in the Middle East , but a major reorganization of capacity is underway to evacuate stranded passengers.
Summary
General condition: Critical saturation
The situation is marked by the prolonged closure of the airspace of Iran, Iraq, and parts of the Middle East. Although Israeli airspace partially reopened this morning (10:00 UTC), the area remains avoided by almost all commercial airlines.
* Longer journey times: Direct flights between India and Europe are always systematically delayed by 3 to 5 hours due to detours via the North (Central Asia/Turkey) or the South (Red Sea/Egypt).
* Ticket prices: Fares remain at record lows for the last available seats, as travellers desperately seek to avoid Gulf hubs.
Situation by Company (March 9, 2026)
Air India: The reinforcement airlift
Faced with the unavailability of Gulf carriers, Air India has become the main player in repatriation.
* Additional flights: The company is currently operating 32 ad-hoc flights to bring back stranded travelers.
* Capacity expansion: From tomorrow (March 10) until March 18, 78 additional flights are scheduled to Paris (CDG), London, Frankfurt, Amsterdam and Zurich.
* Flexibility: Change and cancellation fees are waived for all confirmed tickets to Europe issued before February 28.
Gulf hubs (Emirates, Qatar Airways, Etihad)
* Qatar Airways: Regular operations remain suspended in Doha. Only limited repatriation flights (to London, Paris, Frankfurt) are permitted via specific secure corridors.
Emirates & Etihad: The Dubai and Abu Dhabi hubs are congested. Although flights are departing, delays often exceed 6 hours. The airlines are asking passengers not to go to the airport without confirmation that their flight will be on time.
Saudia: The most stable alternative
* Status: The airline continues to operate via Jeddah. This is currently the most reliable option for those unable to find seats on direct flights, as its routes via the Red Sea naturally avoid the conflict zone. However, transit times in Jeddah are increasing due to the influx of passengers.
European airlines (Air France, Lufthansa, KLM)
* Maintained but diverted: Flights are maintained but subject to the same fuel constraints as others. Many routes now include an unscheduled technical refueling stop (often in Cairo or Muscat).
Practical tips for today
* Airport arrival : Arrive 5 hours before departure at Indian airports (Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru). Checks and the handling of rerouted passengers significantly slow down the check-in counters.
* Flight status : Do not rely on third-party applications. Only check your airline's official website or the real-time flight tracker (FlightRadar24) to see the physical location of your aircraft.
* Visas : If your Indian visa expires today, the authorities facilitate extensions for passengers whose original flight was cancelled (bring your proof of cancellation).
Here is an overview of the most competitive fares for direct flights (including flights with technical refueling stops due to the conflict) between India and Europe on Monday, March 9, 2026.
Prices are shown per person for a one-way trip (round-trip fares are usually double).
Analysis
The IndiGo opportunity : For those on a budget, IndiGo's Delhi-London route remains the cheapest gateway to Europe today. From London, your customers can easily reach Paris or Brussels via Eurostar.
Air India vs European Airlines : Air India currently offers the lowest fares on reinforcement flights to Paris and London, as they have increased their frequencies to compensate for the saturation of Gulf hubs.
Avoid "ghost" layovers : Many websites advertise fares as low as €190 with airlines like Qatar Airways or Kuwait Airways. Beware: as we've seen, these hubs are often overcrowded or closed. These tickets could leave your customers stranded in transit.
Safety reminder:
Although these flights are advertised as “Direct,” be aware that the actual travel time is extended by 3 to 5 hours. Passengers should be patient, as the planes often remain on the tarmac in Cairo or Muscat for an hour for refueling, during which time passengers cannot disembark.
Important points and information can be found in the price list below:
Air India flights : Fares are particularly low because the airline operates many supplementary flights. Note that most flights to Paris include a technical refueling stop in Cairo (CAI) due to the detour via the south.
IndiGo to London : This is currently the cheapest option for entering Europe. It's an excellent alternative for travelers willing to accept "low-cost" comfort on a long-haul flight to avoid the congested hubs of the Gulf.
Availability : These prices are "from" and vary hourly depending on flight availability. Due to the crisis in the Middle East, last-minute bookings are extremely volatile.
Why such discrepancies ? The €200-€230 fares on Air India correspond to supplementary flights specifically implemented to absorb the influx of passengers stranded by the closure of Gulf hubs. These are "socially responsible" fares designed to stabilize the market.
The Air France case : Prices of €450+ are explained by the fact that the airline operates its regular routes. The increase in the price of kerosene (3 to 5 hour detour) is directly passed on to the ticket price.
IndiGo's "Good Deal" : At €207 to London, it's the cheapest entry into Europe. It's a reliable option, but budget extra for the Eurostar or a domestic flight to Paris/Brussels.
In times of crisis, prices are generally expected to skyrocket.
However, if you see fares between €200 and €330 on companies like Air India or IndiGo today, it's for three very specific and "artificial" reasons:
1. Price freezes by the Indian Government
Faced with the current chaos, the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) and the DGCA (the Indian regulator) have taken a radical measure: they have imposed price caps on international flights departing from India.
The goal: To prevent companies from practicing “opportunity pricing” on distressed travelers or residents who need to return home urgently (like you).
This explains why prices remain stable on Indian airlines, while some European or private companies, less regulated by India, are advertising tickets at more than €1,500.
2. Air India's “public service” mission
Air India (owned by the Tata Group) is currently operating what is known as a reinforcement airlift.
Between March 10 and 18, 2026, the company injected 78 additional flights solely to evacuate passengers stranded by the closure of Gulf hubs (Dubai, Doha).
These flights are not designed to maximize profit, but to absorb the excess passenger demand. Therefore, fares are kept at a socially acceptable level to stabilize the market.
3. The lack of “comfort” of the direct flight
The price is also low because the service is degraded by crisis logistics:
Massive detours: Planes have to bypass the conflict zone, which lengthens the flight from 3 to 5 hours.
Mandatory technical stopover: To compensate for the fuel consumption due to the detour, almost all of these "cheap" flights make a one-hour stopover in Cairo (CAI) or Muscat (MCT) to refuel.
The passengers remain locked inside the plane during refueling. This is not a pleasure trip, but a necessary transport.
© Benoit TREDEZ
The other side of the coin (The “Catch”)
Even if the price is displayed, availability is the real problem.
These seats sell out in minutes.
Priority is often given to passengers whose original flights have been cancelled.
Onboard services (meals, entertainment) can be simplified on these “ad-hoc” reinforcement flights.
Advice from the other person in this post: If you see an Air India ticket for €330 to Paris or Brussels via a relief flight (AI1143 or similar), don't wait. This is a regulated fare that will only last for the duration of the emergency airlift.
