Flying from UAE today? Check latest Emirates, Etihad and Air Arabia cancellations
Several Gulf routes remain affected as regional carriers gradually restore services
DUBAI – Travellers flying from the UAE on Monday are facing a mixed picture, with most services continuing to operate while selected Gulf routes remain affected by cancellations, delays and temporary suspensions.
Airlines are gradually restoring some regional connections, but continued security concerns and restrictions affecting parts of the region's airspace mean schedules can still change at short notice. Passengers travelling through Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah are advised to confirm their flight status directly with their airline before setting out for the airport.
The latest changes involve Etihad Airways, Emirates, Air Arabia and flydubai, while several international carriers continue to suspend services to Dubai and other destinations across the Gulf.
Etihad Airways
Etihad has cancelled flights between Abu Dhabi's Zayed International Airport and Bahrain International Airport because of operational reasons.
Flights EY653 and EY654 between Abu Dhabi and Kuwait have also been cancelled for operational reasons. The airline has not announced a restart date for the affected services.
Passengers affected by the cancellations are advised to monitor Etihad's official channels for further information and alternative travel arrangements.
Emirates
Emirates continues to operate its wider network, although Dubai-Bahrain and Dubai-Kuwait services remain unavailable.
Flight EK141 from Dubai to Madrid has also been delayed, with passengers advised to check the latest status before travelling to the airport.
The airline has separately reported delays affecting flights to and from Shanghai and Hangzhou because of adverse weather associated with Typhoon Dolphin. Further delays are possible, and passengers travelling on the affected services have been advised to monitor Emirates' updates.
Air Arabia
Air Arabia has cancelled several services, including flights from Sharjah to Kuwait, Bahrain and Doha, as well as the Abu Dhabi-Kuwait service.
Passengers booked on affected flights should check the airline's latest information before travelling and contact Air Arabia regarding any available rebooking arrangements.
flydubai
flydubai has reported a delay affecting flight FZ909 from Dubai to Jeddah.
Travellers on the service are advised to check the latest flight information before leaving for Dubai International Airport.
Other UAE-operated services have also been affected. Air India Express has cancelled its Dubai-Kannur service, while an Airblue flight between Dubai and Multan has also been disrupted.
Regional recovery
There are signs that some regional aviation services are gradually returning.
Qatar Airways resumed passenger flights to Bahrain, Kuwait and Erbil from August 8, restoring connections that had been temporarily suspended.
Jazeera Airways has also resumed flights to and from Kuwait, although passengers continue to receive operational guidance from the airline regarding airport arrival times.
Oman Air, meanwhile, continues to report disruption caused by technical issues and temporary airspace restrictions. Delays and cancellations remain possible on parts of its network.
Saudia is also continuing to monitor its operations and provide passengers with updates as schedules change.
The restoration of some services does not mean all regional routes have returned to normal. Airlines continue to assess individual routes based on security conditions, available airspace and operational requirements.
Global suspensions
International carriers continue to maintain restrictions on a number of UAE and Middle East services.
British Airways has suspended flights to Dubai, Bahrain, Amman and Tel Aviv until October 31.
Singapore Airlines, Air Canada, Cathay Pacific, Finnair and ITA Airways have suspended Dubai services until October 24.
Lufthansa and Swiss will not resume Dubai flights until September 13, while other Middle East routes remain suspended until later in October.
Aegean Airlines and Air Astana have extended their Dubai suspensions until August 31, while KLM has suspended Dubai services until August 23.
Philippine Airlines continues to suspend Dubai flights until October 2, although Manila-Doha services have resumed.
Turkish Airlines has resumed flights to Dubai and Abu Dhabi but continues to suspend services to Iran.
Wizz Air expects to resume services to Dubai and Abu Dhabi during September.
These dates remain subject to further security assessments and operational decisions by individual airlines.
Longer journeys
Even when flights operate, passengers may still experience longer journeys because carriers are avoiding sections of regional airspace.
Alternative flight paths can add between one and three hours to some journeys. The changes can also affect aircraft rotations, crew schedules and connections across airline networks.
Travellers may therefore encounter last-minute changes to departure times, longer connection periods and delays in baggage delivery, particularly when flights have been rerouted.
Airlines continue to review routes on a regular basis and can make further changes depending on developments in the region.
Travel warnings
Government travel advisories remain in place as authorities monitor the security situation.
The US Department of State has advised travellers to prepare for possible flight cancellations, airspace closures and other disruptions across the Middle East.
The UK's Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has said the situation remains unpredictable and urged travellers to monitor official information before travelling.
Canada continues to advise against non-essential travel to the UAE, warning that renewed missile or drone activity could affect aviation.
Australia has advised citizens in the region to consider leaving while commercial flights remain available, provided it is safe to do so.
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency has also extended its conflict-zone advisory covering Gulf airspace until August 31. The advisory urges airlines to exercise extreme caution because of risks associated with missile and drone activity.
Traveller advice
Passengers departing from the UAE should verify their flight status before leaving home and continue monitoring their airline's website or mobile application for changes.
Travellers should also ensure that their contact details are updated with the airline so they can receive notifications about cancellations, delays or rebooking options.
With summer travel demand still high, passengers should allow additional time for the journey to the airport and for check-in, security and immigration procedures.
Those travelling internationally should also review the latest travel advice issued by their government before departure, particularly when travelling to or through destinations affected by regional tensions.
Airlines continue to advise passengers to rely on official airline and airport channels, as schedules can change at short notice.