Passengers Battle Airline Disruption in the UAE as Emirates, Air Canada, Saudia, Flydubai, and More Cancel Over 20 Flights, Impacting Travel From Dubai to Hong Kong, Toronto, Lisbon, Kochi, Shanghai, and More – New Update You Need to Know

Published on December 16, 2025

Dubai flight cancellations disrupted operations across the city’s two major airports as airlines cancelled a total of 22 departures from Al Maktoum International Airport and Dubai International Airport. The affected destinations spanned multiple regions, including Hong Kong, Guangzhou, Hanoi, Amman, Lisbon, Shanghai, Toronto, Kochi, Calicut, Riyadh, Lahore, Damascus, Larestan, Entebbe, Kabul, and Aden. The scale and geographic spread of these cancellations point to broader operational and network-level challenges rather than isolated route-specific issues.

Dubai flight cancellations were recorded across both long-haul and short-haul services, involving a wide range of aircraft types and airlines, reinforcing the extent of disruption at one of the world’s most important aviation hubs.

Cancellations Recorded at Al Maktoum International Airport

Al Maktoum Airport flight cancellations accounted for six suspended departures, with a noticeable concentration on long-haul Asian routes and repeated disruptions on select regional services.

Cancelled departures from Al Maktoum International Airport included:

• Emirates Boeing 777 flights to Hong Kong, Guangzhou (two departures), and Hanoi
• Royal Jordanian Airbus A321 flights to Queen Alia International Airport in Amman, cancelled twice on the same day

The recurrence of cancellations on Guangzhou and Amman routes suggests ongoing operational constraints rather than one-off schedule changes. The dominance of widebody aircraft on these routes highlights the complexity of managing long-distance operations from the airport.

Dubai International Airport Sees Broader Impact

Dubai International Airport cancellations were more extensive, with 16 departures removed from schedules. The affected flights covered nearly every major travel corridor served by Dubai, underlining the airport’s vulnerability to system-wide airline adjustments.

Key cancellations from Dubai International Airport included:

• Emirates Boeing 777 services to Lisbon (two departures) and Shanghai
• Air Canada Boeing 787 flight to Toronto
• Flydubai services to Damascus and Larestan
• Saudi airline Airbus A321 flights to Riyadh
• Multiple India-bound flights to Kochi and Calicut
• Uganda Airlines Airbus A330 service to Entebbe
• Ariana Afghan Airlines Airbus A310 flight to Kabul
• Additional suspensions to Lahore and Aden

This DXB flight disruption affected passengers traveling between the Middle East and Europe, North America, South Asia, and Africa within a short timeframe.

Indian and Regional Routes Under Pressure

A closer review of the data shows repeated cancellations on South Asian routes. Flights to Kochi and Calicut were cancelled multiple times using Boeing 737 and 737 MAX aircraft, while Lahore-bound services were also affected more than once. These patterns suggest pressure on high-demand regional routes that rely on tight turnaround schedules and consistent aircraft availability.

Middle Eastern connectivity also faced setbacks, with repeated cancellations to Amman and Riyadh, alongside suspended services to Damascus and Aden.

Emirates and Long-Haul Network Adjustments

Emirates cancelled flights featured prominently in the overall disruption, particularly on intercontinental routes operated by Boeing 777 aircraft. The airline suspended services to:

• Lisbon
• Shanghai
• Hong Kong
• Guangzhou
• Hanoi

These long-haul cancellations indicate network-level adjustments that can quickly cascade across multiple regions when aircraft rotations or crew planning are impacted.

Summary Table of All Cancelled Departures

Impact on Travelers and Connectivity

The immediate impact of these cancellations is increased uncertainty for passengers, including missed connections, rebooking challenges, and longer travel times. On a broader level, the Dubai airport travel disruption shows how operational adjustments at a major hub can quickly affect global travel flows, even when multiple airlines and destinations are involved.

Dubai flight cancellations of this scale underline how closely interconnected airline networks are, particularly at hubs that link multiple continents through a single transit point.

Looking Ahead

As airlines continue to adjust schedules and manage capacity, further changes cannot be ruled out. Travelers transiting through Dubai may benefit from closely monitoring airline notifications and being prepared for last-minute adjustments, especially on long-haul and high-frequency regional routes.