Air France resumes Dubai flights after brief suspension
US military presence keeps airlines cautious in Gulf region
DUBAI/PARIS – Air France resumed its flights to Dubai on Saturday after briefly suspending services due to escalating tensions in the Middle East.
The airline emphasised that passenger safety remains its top priority, monitoring developments closely to maintain secure operations.
The pause came amid US President Donald Trump’s repeated warnings of potential action against Iran following a crackdown on domestic protests. Trump stated that a US “armada” was moving toward the Gulf, signalling continued vigilance over Iran. While downplaying immediate military action, he confirmed that Washington remains watchful as Tehran indicates interest in potential talks.
The French carrier confirmed it would continue to monitor the situation in real time. The temporary suspension reflected caution over the region’s evolving geopolitical landscape, ensuring passengers and crew remain protected while flights operate.
Regional airline adjustments
KLM, part of the same group as Air France, also halted several flights to Middle Eastern cities, avoiding the airspace of Iraq and Iran.
Similarly, Germany’s Lufthansa and Austrian Airlines have suspended flights to Tehran until March and mid-February respectively, rerouting aircraft via Iraqi corridors to bypass Iranian skies.
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency has urged carriers to steer clear of Iranian airspace amid ongoing regional uncertainties.
Airlines across the Gulf have also been affected. Emirates, flydubai, Qatar Airways and Turkish Airlines cancelled or rerouted flights to Iranian cities over the past week. At least 46 flights from Tehran’s Imam Khomeini International Airport were suspended between Friday and Sunday, disrupting connections to Dubai, Doha and Istanbul and affecting passengers, cargo and regional logistics.