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You saved for months and booked the winter trip. Then your airline emails: flight cancelled. For thousands of travellers, that sinking feeling has defined 2026. So where do things stand now, and which routes are still a gamble?
How We Got Here
For years, Dubai was the Gulf’s dependable hub. Then Iran retaliated against US-Israeli strikes, and airspace closures shut Dubai International and other Gulf airports. Governments followed with warnings. The UK’s alerts now cover 15 destinations, including the UAE, and apply even if you’re only changing planes.
The Latest Updates
The picture is improving, slowly. UAE airports offered 7.2 million departing seats in October, up 23 per cent since June. British Airways is flying London–Dubai again after an eight-month suspension. Lufthansa, Swiss and Eurowings aim to return on November 25, with Austrian Airlines following on December 12.
Still Grounded
- KLM: no Dubai flights this winter, through March 27, 2027
- Air Canada: cancelled until the end of March 2027
- Cathay Pacific: suspended until January 31, 2027
- British Airways to Abu Dhabi: not expected back until winter 2027-28
Shaky Regional Routes
Closer to home, Saudi Arabia is the weak spot. Emirates has cancelled Dubai flights to Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam and Kuwait, while Etihad cancelled its Saudi services through November 5. Iranian airlines’ UAE flights remain suspended, as does the Emirates–flydubai Tel Aviv codeshare.
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