Live updates: Follow the latest on Israel-Gaza
Emirates Airline and flydubai on Tuesday cancelled all flights to Iraq, Iran and Jordan scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday in response to rising tensions in the region.
The Dubai-based airlines had earlier extended the suspension of routes to and from Beirut until October 8 as Israel began an incursion into southern Lebanon.
The region appeared to be on the verge of further escalation after Iran launched a barrage of missiles at Israel on Tuesday night, with Israel threatening counterstrikes in response.
“Emirates is cancelling all flights to and from Iraq (Basra and Baghdad), Iran (Tehran), and Jordan (Amman) on October 2 and 3,” Emirates said on its website.
“Customers transiting through Dubai with final destinations in Iraq, Iran, and Jordan will not be accepted for travel at their point of origin until further notice.
“We continue to closely monitor the situation in the region and are in contact with the relevant authorities regarding developments.”
Abui Dhabi-based Etihad Airways announced on Wednesday morning that it was cancelling its flight service to Tel Aviv.
“Etihad Airways has cancelled its service to Tel Aviv on October 2 in response to continuing regional developments,” said a representative.
“Etihad is monitoring the situation across the region and continues to maintain close contact with authorities.” The affected flights are EY593 and EY594.
Those booked on the flights will be assisted with travel arrangements, said the representative.
The airline previously told The National that its services to Beirut will remain cancelled until October 8. The affected flights are EY535 and EY538.
Flydubai has also cancelled flights to Jordan, Iraq, Israel and Iran on October 2-3.
“Following airspace closures, Emirates has cancelled some flights and diverted others. We are closely monitoring the situation and are making all efforts to ensure minimal disruption to customers, while assisting those impacted,” an Emirates representative added.
“Emirates advises customers departing or arriving at Dubai International Airport to check their flight status on emirates.com for the latest information regarding their flights.”
Gulf airlines halt flights
Egyptair said it was suspending flights to Beirut indefinitely, while Jordan's flag carrier Royal Jordanian said flights to Beirut were not operating “due to the current situation”, without giving an exact time for a restart.
Iran Air and Iraqi Airways have also suspended flights to the Lebanese capital “until further notice”, local news agencies reported at the weekend.
Bahrain's flag carrier Gulf Air and Doha-based Qatar Airways have taken similar steps because of security concerns. "Due to the continuing situation in Lebanon, Qatar Airways has temporarily suspended flights to and from Beirut Rafic Hariri International Airport until further notice. The safety of our passengers remains our highest priority," a representative from Qatar Airways said.
The National has contacted Saudia and Gulf Air for updates.
Emirates, flydubai and Sharjah-based Air Arabia have also extended the cancellation of their services to Beirut. Flydubai flights between Dubai and Beirut will remain cancelled until October 7.
A statement from Air Arabia read: “Due to the current situation, flights to Beirut from Sharjah and Abu Dhabi remain suspended.”
Passengers transiting through Abu Dhabi and Dubai to Beirut will not be accepted for flights, the UAE airlines said, adding that they continue to monitor the situation and will amend flight schedules accordingly.
“We continue to closely monitor the situation in Lebanon and are in contact with the relevant authorities regarding developments,” an Emirates representative added.
Passengers are urged to contact their airlines for rebooking or refund options.
Lebanon's national carrier Middle East Airlines is the only airline operating from Beirut.
Israel has launched dozens of strikes on Beirut over the past week as hostilities with Hezbollah have escalated after nearly a year of low-level clashes over the war in Gaza.
Trapped in an escalating conflict, thousands of residents are struggling to flee the violence, which has killed more than 1,000 people in the past two weeks. Lebanese caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati said on Sunday that up to one million people have been displaced.
Many countries, including the UK, US France and Ireland, are calling on their nationals to leave. On Saturday the European Commission and the EU Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) issued conflict zone information bulletins recommending that airlines avoid operating in the airspaces of Lebanon and Israel “at all flight levels”.
Diversions due to Iranian rockets on October 1
Airports
- Istanbul 19
- Cairo 10
- Ankara 8
Airlines
- Qatar Airways 29
- Emirates 26
- Kuwait Airways 5
Source: FlightRadar24
Cancelled flights:
- EK945/EK946 Dubai – Basrah – Dubai
- EK2444/EK2445 Dubai – Basrah – Dubai
- EK941/EK942 Dubai – Baghdad – Dubai
- EK2072/EK2073 Dubai – Baghdad – Dubai
- EK977/EK978 Dubai – Tehran – Dubai
- EK971/EK972 Dubai – Tehran – Dubai
- EK979/EK980 Dubai – Tehran – Dubai
- EK904/EK905 Dubai – Amman – Dubai
- EK2056/EK2057 Dubai – Amman – Dubai
- EK837/838 Dubai – Bahrain – Dubai
- EK855/86 Dubai – Kuwait – Dubai
- EK31/32 Dubai – London Heathrow – Dubai
- EK866/867 Dubai – Muscat – Dubai
This article is being updated by The National as the situation develops.
