India's first direct flights to Najaf are launched by SpiceJet, connecting pilgrims from Mumbai and Ahmedabad.

SpiceJet said Friday that it will begin offering nonstop special flights from Ahmedabad and Mumbai to Najaf, Iraq, on October 18, 2025. The airline asserts that this inauguration makes it the sole Indian airline with direct service to the holy city, a popular Muslim pilgrimage site. Services from Ahmedabad will start on October 19, 2025, and flights from Mumbai will start on October 18. The airline claimed that by eliminating lengthy layovers and connecting flights, the new routes will make it simpler for Indian pilgrims to reach Najaf. One of the holiest places in Islam, Najaf is the location of Imam Ali's shrine and welcomes thousands of Indian pilgrims every year. Important religious sites like Wadi-us-Salaam, the biggest graveyard in the world, are also located in the city.