Flight disruptions in the Middle East continue after the US attacked Iran for a second night this week. The ceasefire reached between the US and Iran collapsed in July, and the two sides have traded strikes intermittently since.
The current situation
On Tuesday night, the US claimed it struck dozens of military targets in Iran In response, Iran fired 13 missiles at Jordan, 10 of which were intercepted, while three fell in remote areas. Bahrain and Kuwait also intercepted several Iranian drones fired towards them.
As a result of the recent developments, US embassies in the Gulf have issued an alert to citizens for possible airspace closures, flight cancellations and other travel disruptions. The warning urged citizens to “exercise heightened vigilance.”
Airspace in Jordan, Bahrain, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) remained open and operational on Wednesday. However, passengers with upcoming flights and other travel plans should continue to monitor the situation. Flights to Kuwait, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia are facing continuous cancellations, while many international airlines have extended their route suspensions after the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) renewed its conflict zone advisory for the Gulf.
Which airlines are still flying to and from the Gulf?
Many airlines are still operating flights in the region, though on a limited basis and with fewer flights. It’s important to continually check whether your flight has been delayed or cancelled to avoid getting stranded at the airport. Make back-up plans for such situations and select flexible bookings where available.
Emirates: Operating selected flights from Dubai, prioritising essential travel and repatriation.
Etihad Airways: Operating select departures and arrivals from Abu Dhabi, and resuming its routes to Bahrain, Kuwait and Erbil, though schedules face rolling delays.
Air Arabia: Operating scheduled flights between several UAE airports and many international destinations such as Vienna, Athens and Bangkok.
Air France: Resumed flights to Dubai and Riyadh, and said: “The resumption of operations will remain subject to an assessment of the security situation locally, which is rapidly evolving.”
Turkish Airlines: Resumed flights to Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Beirut and Amman. Its flights to Iran remain suspended.
Have your travel plans been disrupted by the ongoing war? Let us know in the comments.
