Middle East war flight disruptions continue: British Airways suspends Dubai & Gulf routes until summer

The airline confirmed it will halt services to Dubai, Amman, Bahrain and Tel Aviv until May 31, while flights to Doha are paused until the end of April. Routes to Abu Dhabi remain cancelled indefinitely.

The move marks the longest suspension announced by a major airline since the conflict began three weeks ago, surpassing shorter cancellations by Air France and Lufthansa.

The decision follows a drone attack near Dubai International Airport that forced a temporary shutdown of the region’s busiest travel hub. Flights were grounded for seven hours after a fire broke out at a nearby fuel facility, prompting diversions and mid-air turnarounds, including services departing from the UK and Ireland.

In response, the UAE has closed its airspace as a precaution, severely limiting flight operations. Airlines are now relying on restricted air corridors under military supervision, making scheduling unpredictable and capacity extremely limited.

Despite efforts by Gulf carriers to restore operations and clear backlogs, major European airlines have yet to resume routes to and from Dubai. Virgin Atlantic has already withdrawn its recently relaunched service.

Some flights continue to operate to less-affected destinations such as Saudi Arabia, while airlines are adding alternative routes between Europe and Asia, particularly to repatriate stranded travellers.

For travellers, particularly those relying on Middle East hubs like Dubai and Doha for cheaper long-haul connections, the disruption is expected to continue for months — with limited routes, higher prices and increased uncertainty likely across global flight networks.

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