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Dubai has restricted foreign airlines to just one daily flight to its airports until May 31 due to the Iran crisis, raising concerns over revenue losses among Indian carriers, according to a Reuters report published Friday.
Citing a March 27 email seen by Reuters, Dubai Airports said carriers would be limited to one round trip per day to both Dubai International Airport (DXB) and Al Maktoum International Airport during the summer season from April 20 to May 31.
The move extends restrictions introduced after the war involving Iran began.
The Federation of Indian Airlines (FIA), which represents IndiGo, Air India and SpiceJet, has urged the Indian government to push Dubai authorities to lift the curbs.
In a March 31 letter, the group also called for reciprocal measures against Dubai-based carriers, including Emirates and flydubai, if restrictions remain in place.
India was the largest source of passengers for Dubai International Airport in 2025, with 11.9 million travelers, the report said.
Indian carriers are already under pressure from higher fuel costs and longer flight routes after being barred from Pakistani airspace following tensions between the two countries.
The one-flight-per-day cap would limit airlines to around 30 or 31 flights per month, compared with the significantly higher number of services previously scheduled.
Air India and its low-cost unit Air India Express had planned more than 750 flights into DXB during the period, while IndiGo scheduled 481. Saudia and Gulf Air planned 480 and 404 flights, respectively, and SpiceJet 61.
By contrast, Emirates and flydubai continue to operate hundreds of daily flights, according to Flightradar24 data.
The measures come amid longstanding tensions, with Gulf carriers such as Emirates criticizing India’s bilateral air service agreements that limit seat capacity between the countries.
Separately, Air India said its Chief Executive Officer Campbell Wilson has resigned, as the airline continues to face financial and operational challenges.
Wilson, whose term was set to run until 2027, will remain in his role until a successor is appointed.
The airline said its board has formed a committee to identify a replacement, adding that Wilson had informed Chairman Natarajan Chandrasekaran in 2024 of his intention to step down in 2026.
“The time is right for me to hand over the reins for the next phase of Air India’s rise,” Wilson said.
A former Singapore Airlines executive, Wilson was appointed after Tata Group acquired Air India in 2022, aiming to revive the loss-making carrier.
During his tenure, the airline launched aircraft refurbishment programs and operational restructuring.
However, Air India has remained loss-making, posting a combined loss of about 98 billion Indian rupees (around $1 billion) in the 2024–25 financial year.
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The resignation also comes as the airline deals with the aftermath of a June 2025 crash of an Ahmedabad-London flight that killed 260 people.
Indian regulators are expected to release a final report by June 12, the first anniversary of the disaster.
India’s aviation sector is also grappling with rising costs, disrupted international routes due to Middle East tensions, aircraft delivery delays and tighter regulatory oversight.
Last week, IndiGo named aviation industry veteran Willie Walsh as its new chief as it seeks to expand amid challenging conditions.
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