Mass flight cancellations, delays hit UAE airports; Middle East schedules adjusted

Flight services across major aviation hubs in the UAE, including Dubai International (DXB), Abu Dhabi Zayed International (AUH), and Sharjah International (SHJ), are experiencing widespread delays and cancellations. The ongoing military and geopolitical developments in the Middle East have significantly impacted flight schedules, including numerous key routes to India. Aviation authorities have urged travellers to confirm their flight status before heading to the airport.

While major carriers like Emirates and Etihad Airways continue their main operations, they have adjusted several flight timings. Meanwhile, budget carriers such as Flydubai and Air Arabia have either cancelled or rescheduled a significant number of their services. Furthermore, the UAE had announced a complete ban on Iranian airline operations starting September 24.

Impact on Indian and international routes
A substantial number of flights operating out of Dubai International to destinations including India have experienced lengthy delays:
- SpiceJet flight SG 5118 from Dubai to Kochi, scheduled to depart at 3.15 am on September 26, is rescheduled to 7:52 PM.
- Emirates flights to Ahmedabad (EK 541), Mumbai (EK 505), and New Delhi (EK 511) were delayed by over an hour.
- SpiceJet service to Amritsar (SG 5155) was rescheduled to 2.02 pm.
- Several flights to Tehran and Amman have been completely cancelled, including Iran Airtour (B9 9720) and Emirates (EK 902).
- Air Arabia Abu Dhabi and Etihad codeshare flights to Kochi (3L128/EY1688), Chennai (3L142/EY1383), Thiruvananthapuram (3L134/EY1363), Kozhikode (3L201/EY1685), and Sialkot (3L312/EY1428) all faced departure delays.
- Etihad routes to Kuala Lumpur and Kochi were delayed, while Flydubai services to Bangkok, Moscow, Tashkent, Kazan, Mumbai, Kathmandu, Kabul, Faisalabad, and Ashgabat suffered disruptions.
- Aeroflot service to Moscow (SU 520) was also delayed.
- Pakistan International Airlines flight PK 261 from Abu Dhabi to Islamabad was cancelled.
- Flydubai cancelled services to Abha in Saudi Arabia, while Air Arabia cancelled or rescheduled several flights on the Abu Dhabi-Kuwait, Sharjah-Bahrain, and Sharjah-Kuwait routes.

Global airlines adjust Middle East schedules
Responding to the security situation in the region, major international airlines have made significant changes to their services to the UAE:
- Air France has suspended operations until October 13, while Singapore Airlines, KLM, ITA Airways, Swiss, and Eurowings have suspended flights until October 24.
- Air Canada has extended its flight suspensions until mid-January 2027.
- Several airlines have announced tentative resumption dates. Singapore Airlines plans to resume on October 24, followed by Lufthansa on October 25, Swiss on October 27, Eurowings on November 1, British Airways on November 3, and Austrian Airlines on December 12.
- Turkish Airlines has resumed its flights to the UAE but keeps its Tehran routes suspended.

Government travel warnings and passenger advice
Governments including the UK, US, Australia, and Canada have issued updated travel advisories for their citizens in the region. They have urged people to avoid non-essential travel and maintain high vigilance, pointing out the risk of sudden airspace closures. UAE airport authorities have clarified that these delays are caused entirely by operational requirements rather than local weather conditions.

Essential guidelines for passengers
Passengers are advised to follow these precautions to ensure a hassle-free journey:
- Always verify the flight status on the official website or mobile app of the respective airline before leaving for the airport.
- Arrive at the airport at least 3 hours before the scheduled departure time (4 hours for Flydubai passengers).
- Ensure that contact information, including phone numbers and email addresses, is up to date in the airline booking to receive real-time notifications.