Airlines in the UAE have been forced to cancel or reroute several flights as multiple Middle Eastern airspaces closed due to escalating regional tensions. On Tuesday, around 80 global flights from carriers including Emirates, British Airways, Lufthansa, and Qatar Airways, which were bound for major hubs like Dubai, Doha, and Abu Dhabi, were diverted to alternate destinations such as Cairo and European cities, according to FlightRadar24.
Dubai’s flagship airline, Emirates, announced the cancellation of all flights to and from Iraq (Basra and Baghdad), Iran (Tehran), and Jordan (Amman) on October 2 and 3. Emirates is actively monitoring the situation to minimize disruption and is assisting affected passengers. “We are making every effort to ensure minimal disruption while assisting impacted customers,” the airline said in a statement to Khaleej Times. Until further notice, travelers heading to Iraq, Iran, and Jordan via Dubai will not be accepted for travel at their origin points.
Other affected Emirates flights on October 2 included services to Bahrain, Kuwait, London Heathrow, and Muscat. Similarly, Dubai-based Flydubai suspended its flights to Iran, Iraq, Israel, and Jordan for October 2-3, and passengers with connecting flights to these destinations were not allowed to proceed.
Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways also rerouted several of its flights in response to airspace restrictions and canceled flights to Tel Aviv. The airline warned passengers of further disruptions over the coming days, noting that airspace closures in Israel, Jordan, Iraq, and Lebanon, following Iran’s missile attacks on Israel, are likely to affect flight schedules. “Safety is our highest priority, and we would never operate a flight unless it was safe to do so,” the airline stated.
Eurocontrol, a European air traffic control agency, had issued an urgent warning to pilots on Tuesday, notifying them of a major missile attack on Israel. Iraq’s airspace was initially closed but was later reopened by the transport ministry, while Jordan also resumed operations after a temporary closure following missile strikes.
These disruptions, caused by escalating conflicts between Israel and Iran, are expected to further impact an aviation industry already dealing with challenges stemming from conflicts in Israel, Hamas, and Russia-Ukraine. Airlines have advised passengers to check their flight status regularly for updates.