Emirates suspends Dubai flights amid regional airspace closures

2026-03-01 - 12:23

DUBAI — Emirates has temporarily suspended all flights to and from Dubai until 1500 hours UAE time on Monday, March 2, due to multiple regional airspace closures triggered by escalating tensions in the Middle East.In a statement, the airline said passengers booked to travel before or on March 5 may rebook on an alternate flight within 20 days of their original travel date or request a refund.Customers who booked through travel agents were advised to contact them directly, while those who booked with Emirates can seek assistance through the airline’s official channels.Emirates urged travelers to check their flight status before heading to the airport and to ensure their contact details are updated to receive timely notifications.The airline said it is closely monitoring developments and coordinating with relevant authorities, stressing that the safety and security of passengers and crew remain its highest priority.The disruption follows a broader wave of cancellations by several carriers amid evolving security concerns and restricted airspace across parts of the region.Air travel across West Asia and parts of Europe has faced widespread disruption since Israel launched strikes on Iran on February 28, prompting airspace closures and forcing airlines to suspend or reroute services.Israel closed its airspace to civilian traffic following what its defense minister described as a preemptive strike against Iran, leading to the suspension of arrivals and departures at Tel Aviv’s main international airport.Several global carriers have since announced temporary suspensions. Turkish Airlines cancelled flights to Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Iran and Jordan until March 2. Qatar Airways suspended flights following the closure of Qatari airspace, while Air France and Iberia Express cancelled services to Tel Aviv. Dutch carrier KLM also halted flights to the Israeli city.Germany’s Lufthansa suspended flights to and from Tel Aviv, Beirut and Oman until March 7 and temporarily paused services to Dubai. Wizz Air halted flights to Israel, Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Amman until March 7.Dubai-based flydubai said some of its operations were impacted due to the temporary closure of Iraqi, Iranian and Israeli airspace, while Oman Air suspended flights to Baghdad. Kuwait’s aviation authority also halted flights to Iran until further notice.The escalating conflict has disrupted key air corridors linking Europe, West Asia and South Asia, with airlines continuing to assess the situation and coordinate with aviation authorities.