NEW DELHI — In response to the ongoing Iran crisis, Dubai has limited foreign airlines to a single daily flight to its airports until May 31. This decision has sparked concerns about potential revenue losses for Indian airlines, which had plans to operate more flights to Dubai than any other nation, as revealed by recent correspondence.
The Federation of Indian Airlines (FIA), representing major carriers like IndiGo, Air India, and SpiceJet, has urged the Indian government to advocate for the removal of these restrictions by Dubai authorities. If this plea proves unsuccessful, the FIA has suggested that India should consider imposing similar limitations on Dubai-based airlines, such as Emirates and flydubai, according to a letter dispatched to the Indian administration on March 31.
Indian airlines are already grappling with financial strain due to escalating fuel costs and the necessity to take longer routes to Western destinations. This situation arose after being prohibited from using Pakistani airspace post-military tensions between the two neighboring countries last year.
In a confidential email dated March 27, which Reuters reviewed, Dubai Airports informed airlines that they would be restricted to one round trip per day to Dubai International Airport (DXB) and the smaller Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC) during the summer period from April 20 to May 31. This extends the restrictions initiated after the onset of the conflict.
“Airlines remain restricted to one daily rotation until capacity permits additional flights… Extra slots will be allotted should capacity become available,” the communication stated.
The FIA informed the Indian government that these restrictions do not apply to Dubai’s own airlines, such as Emirates and flydubai, resulting in an uneven competitive environment that could lead to “significant” revenue deficits.
Dubai Airports and Dubai’s media office did not respond to repeated requests for comment. Flydubai said its flight schedules were approved by the relevant authorities.
Emirates did not respond to a request for comment.
The measures come after Emirates and other Gulf airlines have long complained about India’s bilateral air service agreements that cap the number of seats that can be deployed between countries.
Indian authorities have said such pacts protect Indian airlines in the cutthroat market.
Indian carriers hardest hit by caps
India was the largest source of passengers for DXB in 2025, with 11.9 million travellers passing through the hub.
The Dubai caps will hit Indian airlines the hardest, according to April and May schedules data from Cirium.
Air India and its budget carrier Air India Express have scheduled more than 750 flights into DXB in that period. IndiGo has 481, followed by Saudia and Gulf Air, which planned for 480 and 404, respectively.
India’s SpiceJet had planned 61.
The one-flight-per-day cap would mean 30 or 31 per month for each foreign airline, versus the hundreds of daily flights being flown by Emirates and flydubai, according to Flightradar24 data.
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IndiGo told Reuters in a statement that the Middle East crisis and the new Dubai extended restrictions “significantly constrained” its operations as it had an approved summer schedule of 15 daily flights from India to Dubai.
“As a result, a significant portion of IndiGo’s capacity and aircraft time is currently underutilized,” IndiGo said in its first comments on the crisis.
Air India, SpiceJet (SPJT.BO), and Indian authorities did not respond to requests for comment.
Air India Express told Reuters the restrictions had “significantly curtailed” its planned services despite relatively high demand on India-UAE routes, limiting options for travellers, particularly from smaller cities, and underscored the need for a “fair and reciprocal operating framework.”
Other major airlines such as Lufthansa (LHAG.DE), Singapore Airlines (SIAL.SI), and British Airways had far fewer flights to Dubai than Indian carriers before the crisis began and have cancelled all flights to the city until at least May 31.
They are instead adding more non-stop Asia-Europe flights to take advantage of strong passenger demand that has pushed up prices.
