Air travel across the Gulf hit a new wave of volatility on 14 September as airlines adjusted routes around renewed missile activity near the Strait of Hormuz. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) re-issued its conflict-zone advisory, urging carriers to avoid airspace over the waters of the UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman and Qatar until at least 30 September. Emirates, Etihad and flydubai continue operating the vast majority of schedules but warn passengers to expect longer flight times and last-minute changes as aircraft skirt restricted corridors. Several non-GCC airlines—including Air France, British Airways and KLM—have extended their suspensions of Dubai services into October, forcing corporate travel managers to re-book staff onto alternative routings via Istanbul, Mumbai or Doha. The UAE’s General Civil Aviation Authority said it had "fully resumed air traffic" after safety assessments but acknowledged that real-time monitoring remains in place. Dubai International (DXB) and Zayed International (AUH) reported dozens of delays and a handful of cancellations, mainly on Gulf feeder routes to Kuwait, Bahrain and Abha. For mobility and travel-risk teams, the situation requires daily vigilance. Companies should build flexibility into itineraries, allow longer connection windows, and brief travellers on potential diversions. Many carriers are offering unlimited date changes and, in some cases, complimentary travel insurance covering conflict-related expenses—valuable perks when redeploying project teams at short notice. Logistics specialists also note a ripple effect on air-freight capacity. With some wide-body passenger aircraft redeployed or flying longer tracks, belly-hold space out of the UAE is tight, prompting rate spikes for urgent shipments. Multinationals moving time-critical parts through Dubai’s free-zones may need to secure allotments early or shift to dedicated freighters.
Source: Condé Nast Traveller Middle East
