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Indians stuck in Qatar to get relief via additional Air India, Jet flights

The move is aimed at helping Indian nationals who were not able to get bookings

Air India Express
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Air India Express

Agencies New Delhi
Air India Express and Jet Airways will start additional flights to Doha from this week to bring back stranded Indian nationals, after some Gulf countries led by Saudi Arabia cut ties with Qatar, a government statement said on Wednesday.

Earlier this month, the Arab world's biggest powers severed diplomatic relations with Qatar, accusing it of support for Islamist militants and Iran. Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Egypt banned Qatari planes from landing and forbade them from crossing their air space.

National carrier Air India will run extra flights between the southern Indian city of Trivandrum and Doha from June 25-July 8, the statement said. Private carrier Jet Airways will operate Mumbai-Doha-Mumbai flights on June 22-23, it added.

The move is aimed at helping Indian nationals who were not able to get bookings but need to get back to India from Doha, the statement added.

Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj had previously said that New Delhi was committed to bring back any Indian stuck in Qatar.

The decision to operate additional flights was taken after Swaraj on Monday took up the issue with Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju.

"We'll operate addl. flights b/w Doha & Thiruvananthapuram, Cochin and Mumbai for our citizens not able to get tickets at Doha @SushmaSwaraj," Raju tweeted.

We'll operate addl. flights b/w Doha & Thiruvananthapuram, Cochin and Mumbai for our citizens not able to get tickets at Doha @SushmaSwaraj

— Ashok Gajapathi Raju (@Ashok_Gajapathi) June 21, 2017

Air India Express will operate an additional flight on Thiruvananthapuram-Doha and Doha-Cochin sectors from 25th June to 8th July 2017.

— Ashok Gajapathi Raju (@Ashok_Gajapathi) June 21, 2017

Jet Airways will run an additional flight on 22nd and 23rd June 2017 between Mumbai and Doha

— Ashok Gajapathi Raju (@Ashok_Gajapathi) June 21, 2017

"All steps necessary for timely movement of our citizens from Doha will be ensured. I and @SushmaSwaraj ji are in touch on this issue," he added.

All steps necessary for timely movement of our citizens from Doha will be ensured. I and @SushmaSwaraj ji are in touch on this issue.

— Ashok Gajapathi Raju (@Ashok_Gajapathi) June 21, 2017