Airlines operating to and from the United Arab Emirates faced another turbulent morning on 30 September after a spike in regional security tensions rippled through Middle-East airspace. According to Dubai-based Gulf News, dozens of departures from Dubai International (DXB) and Abu Dhabi’s Zayed International (AUH) were delayed and several services cancelled outright. French flag-carrier Air France has prolonged its suspension of Dubai flights until at least 24 October, while Cathay Pacific has extended the cancellation of its Dubai and Riyadh routes until 31 January 2027. Operational knock-ons were felt across the Gulf. Emirates, flydubai, Air India, Ethiopian Airlines and SpiceJet all reported morning delays out of DXB, while Jazeera Airways cancelled its AUH–Kuwait rotation. Air Arabia scrubbed multiple Sharjah–Kuwait and Sharjah–Bahrain flights and flydubai dropped its Dubai–Abha service. Although UAE carriers continue to keep most of their networks running, they have urged passengers to arrive early, complete online check-in where possible and monitor airline apps for real-time updates. Industry analysts say the disruptions highlight the fragility of global mobility corridors when geopolitical risk rises. The Strait of Hormuz—through which a fifth of the world’s traded oil passes—remains a flashpoint, and insurers have already pushed up war-risk premiums for carriers overflying or operating in affected zones. Travel managers with staff rotations through the Gulf are being advised to build in longer layovers, re-check interline connections and verify visa validity if itineraries change mid-journey. The UAE’s General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) has not imposed blanket restrictions but is coordinating closely with airlines on contingency routings. Corporate mobility teams are revisiting duty-of-care policies: ensuring travellers are covered for additional accommodation, transport and immigration fees if they are stranded, and keeping emergency contact databases up to date. While flight banks usually recover within 24–48 hours once airspace stabilises, the ongoing security uncertainty means rolling schedule changes are likely through October. Travellers should expect dynamic gate assignments, potential aircraft swaps and longer queues at immigration as peaks bunch together when delayed aircraft finally arrive.
Source: Gulf News
