Speaking to public broadcaster Polskie Radio at midday on 3 March 2026, Infrastructure Minister Dariusz Klimczak confirmed that LOT Polish Airlines has grounded its Warsaw–Dubai rotation until at least 4 March and Riyadh until 8 March after US-Israeli strikes on Iran triggered cascading airspace bans across the Gulf. Flights to Tel Aviv remain suspended until 15 March. Klimczak emphasised that the situation is “changing on an ongoing basis” as the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) maintains guidance for carriers to avoid Iranian, Iraqi and Syrian FIRs until 6 March. While some services operated by Emirates and Flydubai have landed in Warsaw and Poznań under individual risk assessments, LOT is awaiting updated NOTAMs before deciding whether to reinstate Dubai operations. The uncertainty is hitting Polish corporates with regional hubs in the UAE. Many have shifted executives onto indirect routings via Istanbul or Tbilisi, adding seven to ten hours to door-to-door itineraries and inflating TMC budgets by up to 40 %. Travel-risk managers are also reviewing insurance cover after several underwriters declared the corridor a “Listed Area” attracting war-risk surcharges. Government officials reiterated that stranded passengers must first seek assistance from airlines or tour operators, but acknowledged that diplomatic missions stand ready to facilitate repatriation if commercial options dry up. Businesses with frequent-flyer populations should monitor EASA bulletins, validate employee tracking data and remind travellers that voluntary rerouting through banned FIRs could void corporate insurance policies.
Source: Polskie Radio (English Section)
