DUBAI: UAE airlines Emirates and flydubai cancelled or rerouted multiple flights on Saturday, ensuring the safety of passengers and crew following Israel’s recent airstrikes on Iran.
These cancellations have significantly impacted flights to and from key destinations across the Middle East, affecting thousands of travellers.
Which flights have been affected?
The sudden flight disruptions by UAE’s top airlines follow the Israeli airstrikes targeting military sites in Iran on Saturday morning. With heightened security risks, Dubai-based carrier flydubai cancelled all flights scheduled for Jordan, Iran, Iraq, and Israel, while others were diverted to avoid affected airspace. A spokesperson for flydubai said, "We will continue to closely monitor the situation in the region and amend our flight schedule accordingly."
Emirates has also taken precautionary measures, suspending flights to Iraq, Israel, and Jordan until 30 October. Emirates flights to Beirut are similarly cancelled through 31 October, with passengers connecting through Dubai advised not to travel if Beirut is their final destination. The airline informed customers about the cancellation, urging travellers with affected bookings to seek assistance with rebooking or refunds through Emirates’ customer support.
Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways, another major UAE carrier, has rerouted multiple flights, responding to airspace restrictions imposed across the Middle East. An Etihad spokesperson said, “This is likely to cause some disruption and delay to a number of flights over the next 48 hours… Safety is always our highest priority, and we would never operate a flight unless it was safe to do so.”
How are customers being assisted?
Both airlines have emphasised a commitment to passenger safety and comfort during this period of heightened risk. Emirates and flydubai are assisting affected travellers through their respective customer service centres, encouraging passengers to either reschedule their journeys or request refunds. Flydubai’s contact centre and Emirates’ customer service lines are open to provide ongoing support, while flydubai customers are additionally urged to update contact information on the airline’s online platform to stay informed on further updates.
Helpline Numbers for Affected Passengers:
flydubai
- Call Centre: (+971) 600 54 44 45
- Visit: Flydubai travel shop or consult your travel agent for further assistance.
Emirates
- Call Centre: (+971) 600 555 555
- Customers transiting through Dubai are advised to contact Emirates for rebooking or refunds if their final destinations are affected.
Etihad Airways
- Contact Centre: (+971) 600 555 666
- Customers can also check their flight status on official website.
How did the situation escalate?
Tensions escalated early on Saturday when Israel launched airstrikes on Iranian military installations. Iran's state media confirmed that at least two soldiers were killed in these strikes, with multiple explosions reported across Tehran, Karaj, and Mashhad. The Israeli action was in retaliation for Iran’s missile attacks on Israel earlier this month, a conflict that has now led to over 40,000 people dead and severe disruptions in civilian air travel across the region.