13 Airlines Suspend Dubai Flights as EASA Extends Gulf Airspace Warning
Thirteen international carriers, including British Airways, Air France, KLM, the Lufthansa Group, and Singapore Airlines, have suspended or extended suspensions of flights to Dubai and Abu Dhabi after European regulators renewed a warning against flying over Gulf airspace. Emirates, Etihad, flydubai, and Air Arabia continue operating most of their networks, since UAE-based carriers answer to their own civil aviation authority rather than Europe's. Travelers on the grounded airlines face suspension dates stretching into September and October, though a July 29 review could shorten that timeline.
Why Airlines Are Avoiding Gulf Airspace
Bulletin: EASA Conflict Zone Information Bulletin CZIB-2026-07 · Issued: July 14, 2026 · Valid through: July 29, 2026
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency's bulletin instructs all EASA-regulated carriers to avoid UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Qatari airspace at every altitude, citing missile, drone, and combat-aircraft risk tied to the collapse of the US-Iran ceasefire. The advisory followed Iran firing ballistic missiles at a US air base in Jordan on July 14, according to EASA's own bulletin text.
Which Airlines Have Grounded Dubai Routes
Longest suspensions: British Airways, Air Canada, airBaltic, ITA Airways, Singapore Airlines — through October 24 · Shorter pauses: KLM (August 23), Aegean and Cathay Pacific (not before August 31)
The Lufthansa Group — Lufthansa, SWISS, Austrian Airlines, and Brussels Airlines — has extended Dubai suspensions through September 13 and Abu Dhabi service through October 24. Wizz Air plans to resume in September, and Air France has no confirmed restart date, per reporting from Travelers Today. British Airways' own schedule change, confirmed by Gulf News, shows a reduced one-daily-flight restart planned for October 25.
Emirates and Etihad Keep Flying — Here's the Legal Reason
Emirates: 1,300+ weekly flights to 137 destinations · Etihad: 300+ daily flights, its largest-ever summer schedule
UAE-based airlines operate under the country's General Civil Aviation Authority and set independent risk assessments, so they aren't bound by EASA's conflict-zone guidance even though the airports involved remain open. Emirates' own network disclosure confirms it has kept the bulk of its schedule intact, and Etihad doubled its Abu Dhabi–Kabul frequency on July 15.
Today's Cancellations on Kuwait and Bahrain Routes
Emirates: flights EK853, EK855, EK857, EK860 cancelled · Etihad: EY653, EY654 cancelled
Even UAE carriers are cutting specific corridors: Bahrain International Airport's brief July 16 closure knocked out Etihad's EY647 and EY648, and both Emirates and Etihad have cancelled Kuwait flights this week, according to Gulf News flight-tracking data. Broader regional context on the disruption pattern is tracked by NomadLawyer's Middle East flight-suspension roundup.
What to Do If Your Airline Is Suspended
Entitlement: full refund or rebooking · Governing rule: Dubai's Aviation Consumer Welfare Directive, effective since April 28, 2026
Passengers on suspended carriers can claim a full refund or the next available seat under the directive, and Dubai's Civil Aviation Authority confirms airlines still owe duty-of-care meals and hotels for overnight delays even when the cancellation stems from a security conflict — though cash compensation beyond that isn't required.
Fee Waivers and the Travel-Insurance Gap
Etihad: free date change on tickets issued March 6, 2026 through March 31, 2027 · Emirates: one free date change for bookings made from April 2, 2026
Both carriers are absorbing rebooking costs, per Khaleej Times' reporting, but travel insurance purchased after February 28, 2026 — when the US-Iran conflict became public — will likely exclude conflict-related claims under standard war exclusion clauses, making direct airline rebooking the safer route to recovering costs.
People also ask
Are flights to Dubai still operating?
Yes. Emirates, Etihad, flydubai, and Air Arabia continue operating from UAE airports largely on schedule. It's foreign carriers bound by EASA's conflict-zone bulletin — including British Airways, Air France, KLM, and the Lufthansa Group — that have suspended Dubai service, some through October 2026.
Why did European airlines stop flying to Dubai?
EASA's CZIB-2026-07 bulletin, issued July 14, 2026, instructs EASA-regulated airlines to avoid UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Qatari airspace at all altitudes due to missile and drone risks tied to renewed US-Iran hostilities. The bulletin runs through July 29 and could be extended.
Can I get a refund if my Dubai flight was cancelled?
Yes. Under Dubai's Aviation Consumer Welfare Directive, passengers on cancelled flights are entitled to a full refund or rebooking on the next available flight, plus duty-of-care meals and hotel accommodation for overnight delays.
Will my travel insurance cover a Gulf conflict cancellation?
Probably not if you bought the policy after February 28, 2026, when the US-Iran conflict became public knowledge — most standard policies carry war exclusion clauses. Rebooking directly through the airline is generally more reliable than filing an insurance claim.
When will Dubai flights return to normal?
That depends on whether EASA renews CZIB-2026-07 past July 29. Airlines have filed October 2026 as a contingency date, but EASA has repeatedly extended similar bulletins since the conflict began in February 2026, so October isn't guaranteed.
Facts checked against current sources as of July 24, 2026. Suspension dates and advisories change quickly during active conflicts — confirm your flight status directly with the airline before heading to the airport.
