Heavy Cancellations Hit Gulf Aviation
UAE travelers face another day of disrupted air travel on Friday as Saudi route cancellations drag on. Emirates, Etihad Airways, flydubai, and Air Arabia have suspended numerous flights connecting the UAE with Saudi cities. Aviation analytics firm Cirium reported that 46.9 percent of all scheduled Saudi departures failed to operate Thursday. Riyadh remains the hardest-hit hub, with 81.4 percent of scheduled departures from King Khalid International Airport cancelled. King Khalid International Airport remains suspended through October 17 following recent cross-border missile and drone attacks. Consequently, Emirates cancelled flights from Dubai to Riyadh, Dammam, and Jeddah after dropping all eight Thursday departures. Etihad Airways also cancelled all flights linking Abu Dhabi with Riyadh and Dammam through Sunday, October 18. Additionally, Etihad suspended selected Jeddah flights through October 19 while monitoring the fluid regional security situation.
Budget Carriers And International Schedule Shifts
Budget carrier flydubai suspended operations to twelve Saudi destinations, including Riyadh, Dammam, Abha, AlUla, and Neom. However, flydubai continues to operate limited services to Jeddah, Madinah, Tabuk, and Gassim for essential travelers. In Sharjah, Air Arabia cancelled multiple routes to Saudi Arabia alongside selected flights serving Kuwait. Meanwhile, the UAE ban on Iranian airlines remains active, and flydubai's Tel Aviv route stays suspended. International carriers are taking a cautious, uneven approach to restoring their Middle East flight schedules this autumn. Air Astana and Philippine Airlines have already resumed their Dubai flights, while British Airways returns November 3. Lufthansa Group carriers plan to restore Dubai services in late October, though Abu Dhabi suspensions continue until October 24.
Longer Flight Paths And Passenger Advice
Other global airlines have pushed their return dates into next year due to airspace closures and fuel costs. Wizz Air postponed several new Abu Dhabi routes until January 2027 because Iraqi airspace closures require refuelling stops. Cathay Pacific also cancelled its Dubai and Riyadh passenger services through January 31, 2027. Airlines urge UAE travelers to check their flight status online and arrive three to four hours before departure. Prepare for your upcoming journeys with real-time aviation updates and travel news. Check the latest transport reports on The WAU.
Share This Post
