British Airways has cancelled all flights to Dubai until June, due to the “continued uncertainty” amid Iranian missile and drone attacks creating “airspace instability” in the Gulf region.
Travel to Bahrain, Tel Aviv, and Amman is suspended until 31 May, while flights to Doha are on hold until the end of April.
Additionally, services to Abu Dhabi will not resume until October.
This decision follows a recent Iranian drone strike on a fuel storage tank near Dubai International Airport, which led to a temporary closure of the airport and the diversion of incoming flights to Al Maktoum International Airport. Fortunately, no casualties have been reported.
A spokesperson from British Airways told the Financial Times that this move reflects “the continuing uncertainty of the situation in the Middle East and airspace instability.”
Since the US-Israeli operation that resulted in the death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei on February 28, Tehran has launched retaliatory missile and drone strikes on US bases in the region.
On Tuesday, residents in Dubai and Doha were awakened by explosions as air defences intercepted incoming Iranian attacks, leading to brief airspace closures.
While regional carriers like Emirates and Etihad have increased flights along narrow, protected corridors, no major European airlines have resumed flights to Dubai since the escalation of the conflict.
Meanwhile, Qatar Airways has announced a limited flight schedule to and from Doha, effective from Wednesday until March 28, in response to ongoing disruptions in regional air travel caused by the escalating conflict between the U.S. and Israel on one side and Iran on the other.
This situation has caused significant complications for air travel in the region, prompting the airline to adjust its operations.
The airline stated that it will continue to operate flights to various cities across six major regions: Africa, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, North America, South America, and the Asia Pacific.
However, it is important to note that Qatari airspace remains partially closed, which severely limits the number of flights that can be safely conducted.
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