What happened?
Sixteen international airlines have temporarily suspended or extended the suspension of flights to Dubai, with some services not expected to resume until October 2026 or later.
Who is affected?
Travellers flying to and from Dubai on the affected airlines, particularly those connecting through Europe and Asia.
Why does it matter?
Dubai International Airport remains fully operational, but passengers travelling with certain foreign airlines should check their flight status before heading to the airport.
At a Glance
- Location: Dubai International Airport (DXB), UAE
- Organisations: Dubai Airports, Emirates, flydubai and 16 international airlines
- Status: Multiple flight suspensions remain in place
- Who is affected: International passengers travelling to and from Dubai
- Business impact: Reduced connectivity on select international routes while UAE carriers maintain operations
- What’s next: Airlines will resume services based on evolving regional security assessments
International airlines continue suspending flights to Dubai
Travellers planning to fly from Dubai International Airport (DXB) should check their airline’s latest travel advisory before heading to the airport. While Dubai’s busiest airport continues operating close to full capacity during the summer travel season, 16 international airlines have either suspended or delayed the resumption of flights to Dubai because of ongoing regional security concerns and operational restrictions.
Dubai Airports has confirmed that DXB remains operational, while UAE carriers Emirates and flydubai continue serving most of their global destinations. However, several overseas airlines are taking a more cautious approach and are gradually restoring services based on their own operational assessments.
Which airlines have suspended flights to Dubai?
The following international airlines have confirmed temporary suspensions or delayed resumptions of their Dubai services:
- Aegean Airlines – Flights suspended until 7 October 2026
- Air Astana – Almaty-Dubai route suspended until 31 August 2026
- airBaltic – Services paused until 24 October 2026
- Air Canada – Flights suspended until 24 October 2026
- Air France – Flights suspended until 18 August 2026, with departures from Dubai resuming a day later
- British Airways – Flights expected to resume from 25 October 2026
- Cathay Pacific – Flights suspended until 25 October 2026
- Finnair – Dubai services expected to return with the winter schedule in October
- Eurowings – Flights suspended until 24 October 2026
- KLM – Flights suspended until 6 September 2026
- Korean Air – Flights suspended until further notice
- Lufthansa Group – Lufthansa, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines and SWISS flights suspended until at least 13 September 2026
- Philippine Airlines – Flights suspended until 2 October 2026
- Singapore Airlines – Selected Dubai services cancelled until 24 October 2026
- Virgin Atlantic – Seasonal Dubai route suspended until at least 2027
- Wizz Air – No Dubai flights currently available until late October
Most affected airlines are offering passengers free rebooking, refunds or travel credits depending on their individual policies.
Why are airlines delaying their return to Dubai?
The suspensions are not due to operational issues at Dubai International Airport.
Instead, airlines have cited regional security concerns, evolving airspace conditions and operational planning as the main reasons behind extending cancellations. Many international carriers continue to monitor official aviation advisories before restoring normal schedules.
Although UAE airspace restrictions introduced earlier this year have been lifted, airlines are making independent decisions based on aircraft routing, crew planning, insurance requirements and operational risk assessments.
This explains why airlines are resuming services on different dates rather than returning simultaneously.
Dubai International Airport remains open and busy
Despite the airline suspensions, Dubai International Airport continues to operate normally.
Dubai Airports has previously confirmed that airport operations remain stable, with Emirates and flydubai maintaining extensive flight schedules across hundreds of destinations.
The airport continues to experience heavy passenger traffic during the summer travel period and has urged travellers to check their flight status directly with their airline before travelling to the airport.
Passengers flying with Emirates, flydubai or other airlines currently operating from DXB are generally not affected unless notified otherwise.
What should passengers do before travelling?
Travellers booked on any of the affected airlines should:
- Check their flight status before leaving for the airport.
- Review rebooking and refund options available through their airline.
- Monitor airline notifications for schedule changes.
- Allow extra time if travelling during the busy summer holiday season.
- Confirm transit requirements if connecting through another international airport.
Because airlines continue reviewing the regional situation, schedules may change with little notice.
Could more airlines resume services soon?
Several airlines have already published tentative restart dates between late August and late October, although these remain subject to change.
Industry experts expect services to return gradually as airlines gain confidence in regional airspace stability and complete operational planning for the winter schedule.
Meanwhile, Dubai continues to maintain strong international connectivity through Emirates, flydubai and other airlines that have continued operating throughout the disruption.
Why It Matters
For UAE residents and visitors, the latest airline suspensions mainly affect those travelling with specific international carriers rather than Dubai’s aviation network as a whole.
Key takeaways:
- Dubai International Airport remains fully operational.
- Emirates and flydubai continue serving most destinations.
- Only selected foreign airlines have suspended services.
- Passengers should verify their flight status before travelling.
- Most airlines are offering flexible rebooking or refund options.
The situation remains fluid, with airlines expected to restore routes gradually over the coming months.
FAQs
Is Dubai International Airport closed?
No. Dubai International Airport remains fully operational and continues handling thousands of flights during the summer travel season.
Why have some airlines suspended Dubai flights?
Most airlines cite regional security concerns, operational planning and airspace considerations rather than issues at Dubai Airport itself.
Which airlines are still operating from Dubai?
Emirates, flydubai and many other international carriers continue operating scheduled services from Dubai.
Can affected passengers get refunds?
Yes. Most airlines are offering refunds, free rebooking or travel credits, although policies vary by airline.
Should I still travel to Dubai?
Yes, if your airline is operating normally. Travellers should simply check the latest flight status before travelling.
Dubai remains one of the world’s busiest aviation hubs despite temporary service suspensions by several international airlines. While some foreign carriers are taking a cautious approach before resuming flights, DXB continues to operate normally, supported by Emirates, flydubai and numerous other airlines. Passengers travelling over the coming weeks should stay updated through their airline’s official channels and review any schedule changes before departure.
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