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Dubai has imposed a limit of one daily flight per airline at its airports until May 31, citing the ongoing Iran crisis. This restriction has raised concerns among Indian airlines, which had planned to operate more flights than carriers from any other country, according to official communications. The Federation of Indian Airlines (FIA), representing major carriers like IndiGo, Air India, and SpiceJet, has urged the Indian government to press Dubai authorities to remove the flight cap. If they are unable to do so, the FIA has recommended implementing reciprocal restrictions on Dubai-based airlines such as Emirates and flydubai.
Currently, Indian carriers are already facing financial strains from elevated fuel costs and elongated routes to Western destinations due to a ban on Pakistani airspace since last year, amid rising military tensions between the two nations.
In an internal email, Dubai Airport authorities indicated that during the summer season from April 20 to May 31, airlines would be allowed a maximum of one round-trip flight per day at Dubai International Airport (DXB) and Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC). This extension of restrictions, initially put in place after the conflict erupted, means carriers will continue to face limited capacity until further notice.
The FIA highlighted that these restrictions are not being applied equally—Dubai’s airlines, including Emirates and flydubai, are not subject to the same limits, creating an uneven playing field and potentially causing significant revenue losses for Indian carriers. Dubai Airports and Dubai’s media offices have not responded to requests for comment, with flydubai stating its schedules are approved by authorities, and Emirates offering no comment.
These measures follow longstanding complaints by Gulf carriers about India’s bilateral air service agreements, which cap the number of seats each country can deploy. Indian officials maintain these agreements are meant to protect domestic airlines in a highly competitive market.
India was the leading source of passengers at Dubai’s airport in 2025, with 11.9 million travelers passing through. Under the current caps, Indian airlines are expected to be hardest hit, especially given their scheduled flights for April and May. Data from Cirium shows, for instance, that Air India and Air India Express have booked over 750 flights into Dubai in that period, while IndiGo has scheduled 481 flights. Other carriers like Saudia and Gulf Air also have hundreds of planned flights. In contrast, Emirates and flydubai would be limited to just one flight per day, roughly 30 to 31 flights per month, vastly fewer than the hundreds they typically operate daily.
IndiGo stated that the Dubai restrictions have significantly curtailed its operations, as it had planned 15 daily flights during the summer. The airline also noted that much of its capacity and aircraft utilization is currently underutilized. Similar responses from SpiceJet, Air India, and Indian officials have not been forthcoming.
Meanwhile, international airlines such as Lufthansa, Singapore Airlines, and British Airways, which traditionally offered fewer flights to Dubai, have canceled all services until at least May 31. Instead, these airlines are increasing nonstop flights within Asia and Europe, capitalizing on strong passenger demand and rising fare prices.
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