Air France restarts Paris-Dubai route while British Airways and KLM remain suspended
DXB network rebuilds as carriers reassess security conditions across the region
DUBAI – Air France has returned to Dubai after a six-month suspension, restoring a direct link between Paris and the UAE’s busiest city.
The French flag carrier resumed services between Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport and Dubai International Airport on Wednesday, August 26, following months of revised travel advisories and postponed restart dates. Its return comes as international airlines gradually rebuild their Middle East networks after widespread disruption triggered by the regional conflict.
The airline had been among several foreign carriers to suspend services to the region in March. Air France repeatedly reviewed its travel advisory during the following months, pushing back its planned return while monitoring the evolving security situation.
Dubai return
Air France flight AF662 arrived at Terminal 1 at 11.16pm GST on August 26, marking the resumption of the Paris-Dubai service. The route is operating three times a week, with a Boeing 777-300ER scheduled to fly between the two cities on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays.
The airline has also restarted its direct Paris-Riyadh service after assessing the local security situation. Its Beirut flights, however, remain suspended until September 1.
Air France has stated that the resumption of operations remains subject to an assessment of the local security situation, which it described as rapidly evolving.
The return gives passengers travelling between Dubai and Paris another direct option alongside Emirates, while also adding capacity to Dubai’s international network.
More returns
Air France’s restart comes as several other major carriers continue to keep their Dubai services suspended. British Airways has suspended flights to Dubai, Tel Aviv, Bahrain and Amman until October 25, placing its planned Dubai return almost two months after Air France’s restart.
Air France’s partner airline KLM is keeping flights to Dubai, Riyadh and Dammam suspended until October 24. KLM resumed services to Tel Aviv on August 25.
Several Lufthansa Group airlines, including Lufthansa, SWISS, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines and ITA Airways, are also maintaining Middle East suspensions until October 24.
Singapore Airlines has suspended Dubai flights until October 24, while Cathay Pacific has extended its Dubai suspension until October 25. Cathay’s Riyadh services remain suspended until October 26.
Wizz Air is keeping services between mainland Europe and Dubai and Abu Dhabi suspended until October 24, while its Amman flights remain suspended until September 21.
DXB rebuilds
Other carriers have set even later dates for restoring Dubai services. Air Canada’s flights to Dubai and Tel Aviv remain cancelled until mid-January 2027, while Finnair has suspended its Dubai services until March 27, 2027.
The varying restart dates come as airlines assess security and operational conditions across the region individually. Despite the continued suspensions, Dubai International Airport’s international network is rebuilding.
DXB recorded a drop of more than 30 percent in passenger traffic during the first half of 2026 compared with the same period a year earlier. By the end of June, however, nearly 50 international airlines were serving the airport, connecting passengers with 217 destinations across 99 countries.
More than 10 major European and Asian airlines have also announced plans to return to Dubai as part of their winter schedules. KLM is among those preparing a future restart, with flights between Dubai and Amsterdam Schiphol scheduled to resume on October 24.