Major airlines including Emirates, Etihad Airways and Qatar Airways have issued fresh updates as flights to Dubai remain disrupted following escalating tensions in the Middle East
Flights to Dubai continue to face disruption as major airlines including Emirates, Etihad Airways and Qatar Airways release updated information following rising tensions across the Middle East.
Thousands of flights throughout the region have been axed or delayed in recent weeks after security worries and drone strikes by Iran prompting temporary airspace shutdowns and travel chaos.
Carriers are now slowly resuming operations, though numerous routes remain grounded or running with reduced timetables. Dubai stays on the no travel list, unless it is essential.
The UK Foreign Office stated: “FCDO advises against all but essential travel to United Arab Emirates. Your travel insurance could be invalidated if you travel against advice from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO).”
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The UK government also cautioned: “Regional escalation poses significant security risks and has led to travel disruption. Stay away from areas around security or military facilities.”
Dubai-based carrier Emirates confirmed it has commenced running a limited flight programme after sections of regional airspace reopened, reports the Express.
A spokesperson stated: “Customers transiting in Dubai will only be accepted for travel if their connecting flight is operating.
“Please do not go to the airport unless you hold a confirmed booking for these flights.”
Meanwhile, Etihad Airways is running restricted services to London Heathrow and Manchester from Abu Dhabi, but has also cautioned that “all other scheduled commercial services to and from Abu Dhabi remain suspended.”
Qatar Airways is running a single daily service to and from London Heathrow to Doha, though “scheduled flight operations remain temporarily suspended due to the closure of Qatari airspace”.
Virgin Atlantic did resume its services from both Dubai to the UK. Nevertheless, a recent 16-hour journey, labelled the ‘flight to nowhere’, was compelled to turn back to London Heathrow which prompted the carrier to cancel flights until the end of the season (March 28).
Meanwhile, British Airways is presently unable to run services to Dubai and has instead been operating restricted flights from Oman to London.
Travellers with British Airways bookings to Dubai before March 15 have been given the choice to alter their travel dates without charge or request a complete refund.
Air France has scrapped services between Paris and Dubai until March 10, stating operations will only restart following a fresh safety evaluation.
KLM has halted flights to Dubai, Dammam and Riyadh until March 10 and is steering clear of several Middle Eastern airspace routes due to security worries. Lufthansa has temporarily halted flights to Dubai and Abu Dhabi until March 10, with a number of other Middle East routes also temporarily on hold.
Most holiday companies are permitting Brits to cancel their Dubai holidays for a full refund after the destination was added to the UK’s “all but essential travel” list.
Travel company Loveholidays has scrapped all trips departing to Dubai, or via Dubai, up to March 15 and is providing full refunds.
Customers with Emirates flights until March 31 can also cancel for a refund, whilst holidays utilising Virgin Atlantic flights have been cancelled until the same date.
The firm has also put a pause on selling Dubai holidays until May, although June departures remain available.
Meanwhile, TUI stated that customers due to travel to the UAE within the next week will be contacted to discuss their options.
On the Beach has also temporarily cancelled UAE holidays and is offering affected holidaymakers a full refund.
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