Flight services between Kolkata and several West Asian destinations began returning to normal from Saturday after nearly a week of disruptions triggered by the tense military situation in parts of the region.
Officials at Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport said airlines have gradually started restoring operations while closely monitoring the security situation and reviewing flight routes to ensure passenger safety. A Fly Dubai flight from Dubai landed at the Kolkata airport late on Friday night carrying 163 passengers. The aircraft, operating as flight FZ 461, arrived at 12.53 a.m, slightly behind its scheduled arrival time of 12.25 a.m. The same Boeing 737-800 aircraft later departed for Dubai as flight FZ 462 at 1.59 a.m, carrying 92 passengers, marking one of the first regular movements between the two destinations after the disruption.
Airport sources said the resumption of services is being carried out cautiously in view of the evolving geopolitical situation in West Asia, which had earlier forced several countries to restrict or shut their airspace. Meanwhile, Qatar Airways also operated a diverted service early on Saturday morning. The airline ran a Boeing 777-200 flight, QR 8475, which departed from Kolkata for Jeddah at around 3.58 a.m. The aircraft was originally part of the airline’s Perth-Brisbane service in Australia but has temporarily been redeployed on the Kolkata-Jeddah sector.
Officials indicated that such operational adjustments are being made by airlines to manage schedules and ensure connectivity amid fluctuating airspace conditions in the region. Emirates is also set to resume its scheduled operations between Dubai and Kolkata from Saturday evening. An airport official said authorities are keeping a close watch on developments in West Asia while coordinating with airlines regarding route planning and passenger safety measures. “We are continuously monitoring the situation. Airlines are reviewing flight paths and operational plans depending on developments in the region. Passenger safety remains the top priority,” the official said.
Passengers have been advised to stay updated about their flight status and check with airlines for any changes in schedules or possible cancellations. Flight services between Kolkata and Dubai had remained suspended for several days amid the regional crisis. The last flight from Kolkata to Dubai before the disruption had departed on 28 February at 9.35 a.m, operated by Emirates. No flights operated on the sector for several days thereafter. After nearly 113 hours and five minutes of suspension, limited flight operations between the two destinations resumed earlier this week, with more services gradually returning to normal from Saturday.