Emirates, Etihad Airways, flydubai, Air Arabia and Qatar Airways have extended flight suspensions until Tuesday afternoon as Tehran's retaliatory strikes disrupt Gulf aviation following US and Israeli attacks on Iran.
Abu Dhabi's Etihad said regional airspace closures continued to affect operations and that all flights to and from Abu Dhabi are to be suspended until 2pm UAE time on March 3.
Airlines have urged passengers to check flight status before travelling, with Emirates allowing new bookings or refunds for affected passengers.
“Due to multiple regional airspace closures, Emirates has temporarily suspended all operations to and from Dubai, up until 1500 hrs UAE time on Tuesday, March 3,” the airline said in a post on X on Tuesday.
“The situation remains dynamic and is assessed continuously. We urge all customers to review the latest operational updates on emirates.com and check their email for any notifications about changes or cancellations to their flights before travelling to the airport,” the airline advisory said.
“We urge all customers to check flight status before proceeding to the airport,” the airline said, adding that affected passengers have 20 days from the original date of travel to rebook without penalty.
The Dubai carrier also repeated that customers may request refunds and should monitor official channels for further updates.
Flydubai also said on its website that due to continuing developments in the region, the airline has "temporarily suspended all flights to and from Dubai until 1500 hrs UAE time on Tuesday, March 3".
“This is a developing situation, which we are monitoring closely, while working with the relevant authorities to adjust our flight schedule accordingly," flydubai said.
Doha-based Qatar Airways also said in its latest advisory that flight operations remain temporarily suspended due to the closure of Qatari airspace, and that a further update will be provided on Tuesday by 9am Doha time.
“Qatar Airways will resume operations once the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority announces the safe reopening of Qatari airspace,” the airline said in a post on X.
Sharjah's Air Arabia also issued a similar advisory saying flights to and from the UAE are temporarily suspended until 3pm UAE time on Tuesday.
"In addition, flights to Lebanon, Jordan, Syria and Iraq are suspended until March 4," Air Arabia said on its website.
The latest measures follow developments that began on Saturday, when the US and Israel launched strikes on Iranian targets, prompting Tehran to retaliate and forcing several countries in the region to temporarily close their airspace.
The resulting restrictions have sent shock waves through global aviation operations, particularly affecting key transit hubs Dubai and Abu Dhabi in the UAE.
On Saturday and Sunday, Emirates, Etihad Airways, flydubai, and Air Arabia announced temporary halts to operations at their respective hubs in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah, citing precautionary safety measures in response to airspace closures.
Etihad halted departures from Zayed International Airport, suspending services and advising travellers to stay informed as conditions evolve. The airline said it continues to assess the situation in co-ordination with authorities.
Sharjah-based budget carrier Air Arabia also announced a temporary suspension of flights to and from the UAE, emphasising that the safety of its passengers and crew remains its priority. The airline said operations would resume once airspace restrictions are lifted and conditions stabilise.
Most significant pause
More than 3,400 flights were cancelled on Sunday across airports in the Middle East including Qatar, Kuwait, and Bahrain along with UAE airports, according to Flightradar24.
The suspensions represent one of the most significant co-ordinated pauses in UAE commercial aviation since the Covid-19 pandemic, underlining the vulnerability of international air travel to geopolitical escalation.
Dubai and Abu Dhabi rank among the world’s busiest transit hubs, handling tens of thousands of passengers daily and together serving more than 250 destinations.
On Saturday, two people were killed in Abu Dhabi, and seven were wounded in a drone attack on Zayed International Airport, said officials.
In Dubai, four people were injured in an incident at the Dubai International Airport.
The UAE’s General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) announced a temporary suspension of operation of drones and light sports aircraft within UAE airspace.
Pro-Iranian militia group, Saraya Awliya Al Dam, claimed responsibility for a drone attack on Erbil International Airport on Sunday morning, where it said it attacked a US base.
Also on Sunday, the Syrian General Authority of Civil Aviation and Air Transport announced a 24 hour extension to its airspace and airport closures starting from Sunday morning.
Industry analysts say the closure of air corridors over parts of the Gulf, Iraq and Iran has forced airlines to reroute aircraft on longer trajectories, increasing fuel costs and journey times while prompting precautionary cancellations.
Deena Kamel contributed to this report
