A simmering air conflict between India and Dubai fueled by disguised protectionism

Diplomatic relations between Delhi and Dubai have darkened considerably as the emirate maintains, without providing convincing technical explanations, a drastic restriction on flights from foreign airlines until May 31, 2026.

While local flagships Emirates and Flydubai continue to operate at full capacity, international carriers have been limited to a single daily flight since March 27, a situation that the Federation of Indian Airlines (FIA) denounces as an unacceptable protectionist maneuver.

Dubai officially justifies this measure by citing airport infrastructure saturation and damage caused by the recent interception of drones, but this explanation is failing to convince analysts given the smooth flow of traffic for Emirati airlines.

Indian airlines are the first victims of this standoff: already weakened by a chaotic financial situation and the ongoing ban on overflying Pakistani airspace, they are seeing their revenues plummet on one of the world’s most lucrative air corridors.

Faced with what it calls a blatant injustice, the FIA ​​is now urging the Delhi government to take firm diplomatic and economic action, suggesting an outright ban on Emirates entering Indian territory if the restrictions are not lifted immediately.

This crisis underscores the vulnerability of the aviation sector in a region marked by unpredictable geopolitical tensions, transforming open skies agreements into powerful tools of political pressure in April 2026.