Dubai: India's domestic carrier Indian Airlines has stepped in to lift stranded passengers from Gulf after Air India cancelled 37 flights to the region from April 27 till the end of the month due to strike by pilots over the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) epidemic.

"Nearly 45 per cent of the flights from India to the Gulf have been cancelled due to the strike and the destinations most affected are Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Muscat," P P Singh, regional director, Air India, said.

"Flights to Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar are largely unaffected," he said, adding 37 flights out of 75 have been cancelled.

"We have prepared a new schedule from April 27 to April 30. The passengers who have booked on the cancelled flights will be carried on other Air India flights or will be endorsed on Indian Airlines or if need be on other Gulf airlines," Singh said.

Indian Airlines will operate additional flights and accommodate Air India ticket-holders on regular flights.

Singh said since it was a lean season, some of the other Air India flights which were not full could accommodate passengers booked on the affected schedules.

"We have operated an additional Indian Airlines flight yesterday in the Delhi-Dubai sector and are ready to introduce more such flights if there are enough passengers," R C Kathuria, regional director, Indian Airlines, said.

PTI