Flight Cancellations Hit Middle East Airspace

Massive Flight Cancellations in the Middle East: Several Dubai Airlines Suspend Routes

Airlines based in the United Arab Emirates - including Emirates headquartered in Dubai, flydubai, and Etihad operating from neighboring Abu Dhabi - have enacted significant flight cancellations and suspensions following the closure of airspace by several countries, including Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, and Israel. These actions were taken as an international response to a military strike named "Rising Lion" launched by Israel, targeting Iran’s strategic installations, including missile and nuclear facilities.

More than a dozen destinations have become inaccessible

Flight cancellations peaked on June 13 and 14. The websites of Dubai International Airport (DXB) and Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC) indicated mass cancellations, particularly for flights heading to or originating from countries like Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Israel, as well as several Caucasian and Central Asian states like Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Kazakhstan.

Flydubai's flights to 17 countries were affected by the disruptions. They reported that the airspace closures over Iran and Israel significantly impacted operations conducted during night hours. Prioritizing safety, the airline emphasized that they are continuously monitoring the situation and adjusting their schedules accordingly.

Emirates and Etihad: Destinations dropped one after another

Emirates canceled several flights to Tehran, Baghdad, Basra, Amman, and Beirut. Similarly, Etihad suspended all its flights between Abu Dhabi and Tel Aviv, with significant delays expected on flights to Amman.

For example, Emirates canceled or delayed the following flights:

Dubai–Tehran (EK977, EK978, EK979, EK980)

Dubai–Baghdad (EK943, EK944, EK941, EK942)

Dubai–Basra (EK945, EK946)

Dubai–Amman (EK903, EK904, EK905, EK906)

Dubai–Beirut (EK953, EK954, EK957, EK958)

Etihad announced the full suspension of flights to Tel Aviv and warned of longer delays on flights to Amman.

Air Arabia implements similar measures

Air Arabia also canceled flights to destinations such as Iran, Iraq, Russia, Armenia, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Kazakhstan. Passengers are being directly informed about the affected flights, and they noted that further delays or route modifications might occur.

Passengers advised to check their flights in advance

Dubai airport authorities confirmed that several flights have been canceled or delayed due to airspace closures and advise passengers to check airlines' websites or customer services for the latest updates before departure. They added that on-site teams are providing all necessary assistance to affected passengers with rebooking and management.

The direct impact of geopolitical tension on aviation

This series of events clearly illustrates how quickly and directly regional conflicts can impact civilian aviation. Flights from Dubai provide crucial connections between the Middle East, Central Asia, and Europe, so suspensions of this magnitude affect not just tourists but also business travelers, workers, and transit passengers.

(Source of the article is based on Dubai International Airport (DXB) website.)