The new Boeing 737-800 aircraft in the livery of Air India Express at Mumbai airport May 24, 2007.

:: India will operate flights starting next week allowing its citizens in Qatar to return home after diplomatic crisis hit the Gulf country. The decision was taken after several countries such as Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Egypt decided to cut their ties with Qatar.

Air India Express will offer flights between Indian state of Kerala and Doha from June 25-July 8, according to a report by The Times of India.

Indian airline Jet Airways will also operate additional flights on Thursday and Friday, airlifting citizens between Doha and west coast city of Mumbai. Around 700,000 Indians live in Qatar.

According to the report, India’s external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj spoke to aviation minister AG Raju on Monday, to operate flights for Indians who were not able to get bookings and who wanted to come back to their country from Doha.

The aviation ministry assured the Ministry of External Affairs “that all steps necessary for timely movement of Indian nationals from Qatar shall be ensured.”