After days of anxiety and waiting, flight services from Dubai and Abu Dhabi to India restarted on Monday night, bringing huge relief to thousands of stranded Indians. Routes to Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru were among the first to operate after the suspension.
Relief and Emotion at the Airports
Airports witnessed scenes of happiness as passengers finally boarded flights home. On an Emirates service from Dubai to Bengaluru, a cabin crew member welcomed travellers with a simple but heartfelt message, calling it the first flight to take off after the disruption. For many on board, it was more than just an announcement. It marked the end of days filled with uncertainty.
Sanjeev Mehta, travelling on the same flight, said he was thankful to the UAE authorities for restarting services. He shared that passengers received very short notice to book tickets but managed to secure seats and rush to the airport. Despite the last-minute scramble, he said the excitement of heading home made it all worth it.
Limited Operations Restarted
Earlier, Dubai Airports confirmed that operations had partially resumed from the evening of March 2. Only a limited number of flights were cleared to operate from Dubai International Airport and Al Maktoum International Airport.
Authorities advised travellers to wait for direct confirmation from their airlines before heading to the airport, stressing that only selected flights were operating.
Why Flights Were Suspended
Services had been halted after US-Israel strikes on Iran on February 28 triggered tensions across the region. Iran responded with drone and missile attacks targeting multiple countries, forcing widespread cancellations and disrupting air travel.
Now, with aircraft slowly returning to the skies, a sense of normalcy is beginning to return. For many Indians who had been stuck in the UAE, the journey home has finally begun.
