Airlines serving Dubai International (DXB), Zayed International (AUH) and Sharjah (SHJ) reported dozens of delays and a handful of cancellations on 25 September as carriers adjusted routings to steer clear of Iranian airspace and absorb the knock-on from the previous day’s flight ban on Iranian operators. Emirates cancelled services to Manila, Baghdad, Melbourne, Karachi and Phuket, while Etihad listed minor delays on Bahrain, Kuwait and Riyadh routes. Low-cost carriers flydubai and Air Arabia scrubbed multiple Kuwait and Bahrain rotations. Although schedules are largely intact, airport authorities advise passengers to arrive at least three hours before departure and to use online check-in where possible. Corporate travel managers are grappling with fluid seat availability as aircraft are up-gauged or down-gauged to optimise network coverage. According to IATA data cited in the advisory, jet-fuel prices jumped 7.4 per cent week-on-week, adding further cost pressure just as the peak autumn conference season begins in the Gulf. The UK, U.S., Australia and Canada all maintain elevated travel advisories for the UAE, warning that flights could be diverted or cancelled at short notice. Travellers with tight connections outside the region are urged to build longer layovers and purchase change-flexible fares. Duty-of-care specialists recommend real-time traveller-tracking and mobile push alerts to keep assignees informed.
Source: Gulf News
