Indian Expats Face Job Uncertainty Amid Flight Disruptions And Middle East Conflict

2026-03-01 11:14:24

(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) Stranded passengers like J. Fernandes from Goa were supposed to report back to work on Sunday in Saudi Arabia. He said: "If this war lasts longer, I could lose my job"

[Editor's Note: Follow Khaleej Times live blog amid Israeli, US strikes on Iran for the latest regional developments.]

Hundreds of Indian passengers have been anxiously waiting at various airports across India since Saturday to board a plane that would bring them back to their workplaces in the Middle East.

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Among them is J. Fernandes from Siolim, a small village in Goa, who was supposed to report back to work on Sunday in Saudi Arabia. He came home for a short visit to finish an urgent work but now he is unsure when he can go back to work.“If this war lasts longer, it could also result in job loss for migrant workers like me," he told Indian media.

Thomas D'Souza, another Goan who had returned home from the Gulf after his mother's death, is also worried about the future, especially if the war gets prolonged. He admitted he might lose his job if he does not return to work on time.

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Similar scenes of distressed passengers anxious about the ongoing war in the Middle East and their flights were evident across the country on Sunday. But the news continued to be grim, with the Indian Ministry of Civil Aviation announcing that more flights would be cancelled because of airspace restrictions. Airports across the country – from Chandigarh to Chennai and Mumbai to Kolkata – were clogged with passengers waiting to catch international flights to countries across the globe.

R. Sandeep, a London resident, said he is“in big trouble” as he was on extended leave from work, but had to resume duty by Monday.

“I have no clue what to do," added a Rajasthan resident, who was to fly to Lebanon from Delhi over the weekend.

Meanwhile, some passengers who were planning a holiday in the UAE were worried that all their hotel and flight bookings would go waste and they would incur heavy losses because of the ongoing geopolitical crisis.

Those travelling on long flights to the US and Europe also shared their concerns. "We were trying to fly back to the US, and our flight got cancelled. We did not get any information regarding our flight cancellation. We have not received any messages. We've been here for almost an hour now.”

He is just one of the many passengers who complained about the lack of communication from Indian airports and airlines.

Visa extension for foreigners

Good thing for foreigners stranded at Indian airports, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs rushed to their help and advised them to contact the nearest Foreigners Regional Registration office to extend their visas or regularise their stay.

“All foreign nationals in India, who have had to change their travel plans due to the ongoing developments in the West Asia region and need assistance with extension of their visa or to regularise their stay, are requested to contact the nearest Foreigners Regional Registration Office,” the ministry announced.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) earlier urged airlines to avoid the airspace of almost a dozen countries because of the ongoing war. They include Iran, Israel, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Oman, Kuwait, Qatar, Iraq, Jordan and Lebanon.

All Indian carriers operating flights to the Middle East have suspended their operations, including Air India, IndiGo, Air India Express, Akasa Air, and SpiceJet. Many airports also informed passengers about the flight cancellations.