Image credit: Emirates/Website
Major airlines across the UAE have announced a wave of flight cancellations and suspensions in response to escalating regional tensions and airspace restrictions affecting parts of the Middle East.
The decisions have disrupted travel plans for thousands of passengers and prompted rerouting of several flights, with carriers citing safety as their top priority.
Emirates suspends flights to four countries
Dubai-based Emirates Airline has temporarily suspended all flights to and from Iraq, Iran, Jordan, and Lebanon due to the evolving security situation.
The affected destinations include:
Amman, Jordan and Beirut, Lebanon — suspended until and including Sunday, June 22
Tehran, Iran, and Baghdad and Basra, Iraq — suspended until and including Monday, June 30
Read-Iran, Iraq airspace closure: DXB, Sharjah airports issue statement
Customers traveling through Dubai with final destinations in these countries — or those with onward connections via flydubai to suspended destinations — will not be accepted for travel at their point of origin until further notice.
Emirates urged affected travelers to contact their travel agent for rebooking or, if booked directly, reach out to the airline. Passengers are also advised to check flight status on emirates.com and update their contact details via the airline’s Manage Your Booking feature to receive timely alerts.
“We apologize for any inconvenience caused and continue to monitor the situation closely,” the airline said in a statement. “The safety of our passengers, crew, and operations remains our highest priority.”
Etihad cancels Tel Aviv flights, resumes Jordan and Lebanon routes
Abu Dhabi’s Etihad Airways also announced continued disruptions due to regional airspace closures, particularly affecting flights to Israel, Jordan, and Lebanon.
Flights between Abu Dhabi (AUH) and Tel Aviv (TLV) are canceled through June 17. Services between Abu Dhabi and Amman (EY 591/592) and Beirut (EY 581/582) are set to resume June 15 with revised schedules for passengers holding existing bookings.
Etihad noted it is rerouting multiple other services due to restricted airspace and will not accept transit passengers connecting through Abu Dhabi to canceled destinations.
“This remains a developing situation, and some delays may occur,” the airline said. “We are assisting impacted guests with alternative arrangements.”
Travelers are advised to check etihad.com, the airline’s mobile app, or call the Etihad Contact Centre for real-time updates.
Wizz Air suspends Tel Aviv and Amman routes
Low-cost carrier Wizz Air confirmed it is suspending all flights to and from Tel Aviv and Amman until June 20 amid ongoing instability in the region.
Additionally, the airline warned that flights overflying affected airspace — including services to and from Abu Dhabi Zayed International Airport — may also face disruptions.
Passengers can opt for free rebooking or request a full refund in WIZZ credits or to their original payment method. Those who booked through third parties should contact them directly.
Wizz Air urged travelers to monitor its website, app, or email and SMS notifications for the latest flight status and instructions.
“We continue to monitor the situation closely and thank all passengers for their understanding,” the airline said. “Safety remains our top priority.”
flydubai cancels routes across multiple countries
flydubai has also suspended flights to several destinations in response to the ongoing crisis and airspace restrictions:
Until June 16: Jordan, Lebanon, Syria
Until June 17: Minsk (Belarus), St. Petersburg (Russia)
Until June 20: Iran, Iraq, Israel
Passengers connecting through Dubai International Airport (DXB) with final destinations in affected areas will not be accepted for travel until further notice.
The airline advised customers to manage rebooking options online and keep contact information updated via the Manage Booking portal. Flight status updates are available at flydubai.com.
“Some flights may be rerouted or delayed. We apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate your understanding,” flydubai said, adding that it is closely monitoring the situation.
Air Arabia cancels broad range of flights
Sharjah-based Air Arabia announced cancellations across a wide range of destinations due to airspace closures and escalating regional tensions.
On June 14, flights to Iran, Iraq, Russia, Armenia, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, and Kazakhstan were canceled.
On June 13, the airline had already suspended flights to Iran, Iraq, Jordan, and several of the same Central Asian and Caucasus countries.
Passengers transiting through Sharjah or Abu Dhabi to these destinations will not be accepted for travel at their origin airports until further updates are issued.
Several other flights have also been rerouted or delayed as a result.
