Etihad Airways, Air Canada, and More Adjust UAE Flights Amid Iran War

2 hours ago 3

March 15, 2026 | 04:18 pm

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The rising geopolitical tensions in the Middle East have had significant impact on air connectivity, with Gulf states such as the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, and Bahrain having imposed temporary airspace restrictions for safety reasons. Several airlines from and to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have announced flight limitations or cancellations.

The UAE General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) has affirmed that airspace closure is an extraordinary precautionary measure. "exceptional precautionary measure aimed at ensuring the safety of flights and aircrews, and safeguarding the UAE’s territory," stated GCAA's official announcement as cited in Condé Nast Traveller.

The European Union Aviation Safety Agency has also urged European airlines not to operate in the affected airspace at all altitudes and flight levels.

Each airline will update information based on regional airspace restrictions and safety parameters. Passengers are advised to proceed to the airport only after receiving booking confirmation and direct information from airline staff.

Airlines Cancelling and Suspending Flights

Meanwhile, as reported by Travel+Leisure, a number of airlines have cancelled and suspended flights to and from the UAE. Among them, Dubai-based Emirates and Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways have scheduled limited flights in the region.

Emirates is currently serving about 75 to 100 destinations gradually, while Etihad is serving 70 destinations, including routes to Jakarta and Denpasar, until March 19, 2026. Meanwhile, Oman Air has confirmed cancellations for flights from or to Amman, Dubai, Bahrain, Doha, Dammam, Kuwait, Copenhagen, Baghdad, and Khasab until March 22, 2026.

Flydubai has resumed flights across its network and will operate with a limited schedule. The same goes for Air Arabia, whose flight network has started operating again, including to 44 destinations in 18 countries, covering major destinations in the Middle East, Asia, Africa, and Europe.

On the other hand, Air Canada has suspended flights to Dubai until March 18 and to Tel Aviv until May 2. British Airways has also suspended all flight operations to and from Amman, Bahrain, Doha, Dubai, and Tel Aviv until the end of this month, as well as to and from Abu Dhabi until the end of this year. Meanwhile, Virgin Atlantic and KLM have cancelled all flights to Dubai, United Arab Emirates, until March 28, 2026.

For travelers, these disruptions have triggered various practical challenges such as sudden cancellations, route diversions prolonging flight durations, and technical stops for refueling. Airlines like Flydubai and Air India Express are offering full refunds or free rebooking options for affected passengers.

Despite the gradual reopening of UAE airspace for repatriation flights, travelers are advised to monitor this highly dynamic situation closely.