Dubai has restricted foreign airlines to one daily flight to its airports until May 31 due to the ongoing US-Iran conflict, a move expected to disproportionately hurt Indian carriers, according to Reuters.
The curbs, which apply at Dubai International Airport and Al Maktoum International Airport, will run from April 20 through the end of May, limiting airlines to a single rotation per day.
The restrictions come as the conflict disrupts regional airspace and fuel supply chains, forcing airlines to adjust operations across the Middle East.
Indian carriers are expected to be among the hardest hit. India was the largest source of passengers for Dubai in 2025, with around 11.9 million travellers passing through the hub. Airlines including Air India, IndiGo and SpiceJet had scheduled hundreds of flights to Dubai during the affected period, far exceeding the new cap.
According to Reuters, Air India and its low-cost unit Air India Express had planned more than 750 flights into Dubai across April and May, while IndiGo had scheduled 481. The one-flight-per-day limit would significantly reduce those operations.
The Federation of Indian Airlines has urged the government to raise the issue with Dubai authorities, warning that the restrictions could lead to substantial revenue losses and arguing that they disproportionately affect Indian carriers compared with UAE-based airlines such as Emirates and flydubai.