The Federation of Indian Airlines (FIA), which includes major operators like IndiGo, Air India, and SpiceJet, has urged the Indian government to advocate for lifting these restrictions with Dubai authorities. If unsuccessful, they suggest considering retaliatory measures against Dubai airlines, including Emirates and flydubai, as per a letter sent on March 31.
Indian airlines are already facing financial strain from rising fuel costs and longer routes to Western destinations, having been barred from using Pakistani airspace since last year due to military tensions between the two nations.
In a confidential email dated March 27, reviewed by Reuters, Dubai Airports stated that airlines would be permitted only one round trip per day to Dubai International Airport (DXB), usually the busiest international travel hub in the world, as well as to the smaller Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC) during the summer season from April 20 to May 31, extending previous restrictions that were put in place following the onset of the war.
”Carriers will remain restricted to one rotation per day, until capacity allows for more operations to be facilitated… Additional slots will be given if available,” the email explained.
The FIA informed the Indian government that these restrictions do not apply to Dubai’s carriers such as Emirates and flydubai, resulting in an uneven competitive landscape that could result in significant revenue losses.
Dubai Airports and the media office of Dubai did not respond to multiple requests for comments. Flydubai asserted that its flight schedules had received approval from the necessary authorities. Emirates did not reply to a request for comment.
These measures follow complaints from Emirates and other Gulf airlines regarding India’s bilateral air service agreements that limit the number of seats that can be allocated between countries. Indian officials have stated that these agreements are in place to safeguard Indian carriers in a highly competitive market.
INDIAN CARRIERS HARDEST HIT BY CAPS
India was the largest source of passengers for DXB in 2025, with 11.9 million travelers passing through the hub.
The new restrictions will impact Indian airlines the most, based on data from Cirium concerning April and May schedules.
Air India and its subsidiary Air India Express have arranged over 750 flights into DXB during this timeframe. IndiGo follows with 481 flights, while Saudia and Gulf Air are set to operate 480 and 404 flights, respectively. SpiceJet has scheduled 61 flights.
The cap of one flight per day translates to 30 or 31 flights per month for each foreign airline, in stark contrast to the hundreds of daily flights operated by Emirates and flydubai, as per Flightradar24 data.
IndiGo informed Reuters that the Middle East crisis and the new extended restrictions from Dubai have ”significantly constrained” their operations, given that they had an approved summer schedule for 15 daily flights from India to Dubai.
”Consequently, a significant portion of IndiGo’s capacity and aircraft time is currently underutilized,” the airline mentioned in its first public comments regarding the situation.
Air India, SpiceJet, and Indian authorities did not reply to requests for comment.
Air India Express told Reuters that the restrictions had “significantly curtailed” its planned operations despite strong demand for India-UAE routes, limiting options for travelers, particularly from smaller cities and highlighting the necessity for a “fair and reciprocal operating framework.”
Other major airlines, including Lufthansa, Singapore Airlines, and British Airways, had far fewer flights to Dubai compared to Indian carriers prior to the crisis and have temporarily suspended all flights to the city until at least May 31.
Instead, they are focusing on increasing non-stop Asia-Europe flights to capitalize on robust passenger demand, which has led to rising prices.
