Travel Disruption in UAE as Emirates, Etihad, and Other Airlines Cancel Over a Dozen Flights Leaving Passengers Stranded and Impacting Routes to JFK, Newark, Hong Kong, Boston, Jeddah, and More – New Update

Published on February 24, 2026

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Over the past week, UAE airports have experienced a surge in flight cancellations, disrupting operations across Dubai International, Abu Dhabi International, and Al Maktoum International airports. The disruptions affected both intercontinental and regional travel, impacting key destinations including New York (JFK and Newark), Boston, Hong Kong, Jeddah, Bahrain, Entebbe, Jaipur, and Calicut. In total, 20 flights were cancelled across these three airports, creating travel challenges for thousands of passengers.

Dubai International Airport faced multiple disruptions on long-haul flights to the United States, as well as regional connections:

• UAL163, Boeing 777, Newark Liberty Intl (KEWR) – cancelled Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday at 02:15 AM
• UAE203, Airbus A380, John F. Kennedy Intl (KJFK) – cancelled Monday, Tuesday, Tuesday at 02:35 AM
• UAE201, Airbus A380, John F. Kennedy Intl (KJFK) – cancelled Monday at 08:30 AM
• UAE237, Boeing 777, Boston Logan Intl (KBOS) – cancelled Monday at 08:40 AM
• SEJ58, Boeing 737-800, Jaipur (JAI / VIJP) – cancelled Tuesday at 03:40 AM
• SEJ54, Boeing 737-800, Calicut (CCJ / VOCL) – cancelled Monday at 03:40 AM
• UAE835, Airbus A350-900, Bahrain Intl (BAH / OBBI) – cancelled Tuesday at 02:10 AM
• SVA567, Airbus A321, King Abdulaziz Intl (JED / OEJN) – cancelled Monday at 11:10 AM
• UGD445, Airbus A320, Entebbe Intl (EBB / HUEN) – cancelled Monday at 06:30 AM

Abu Dhabi International Airport reported repeated cancellations of flights to New York:

• ETD1, Airbus A350-900, John F. Kennedy Intl (KJFK) – cancelled Monday, Tuesday at 02:55 AM
• ETD3, Boeing 777-300ER, John F. Kennedy Intl (KJFK) – cancelled Monday at 09:40 AM

Al Maktoum International Airport experienced delays on a major Asian route:

• UAE9782, Boeing 777-200ER, Hong Kong Intl (HKG / VHHH) – cancelled Tuesday at 01:10 AM

Table of All Cancellations

Total cancellations: 20 flights
Affected destinations: Newark, JFK, Boston, Jaipur, Calicut, Bahrain, Jeddah, Entebbe, Hong Kong

Implications for Passengers and Airlines

The surge in UAE flight cancellations has wide-reaching effects:

• Passenger impact: Travelers face rescheduling challenges, missed connections, and limited alternate options.
• Operational strain: Airlines must reallocate aircraft and crews while managing delays efficiently.
• Economic impact: Tourism, business travel, and cargo movement experience setbacks due to these disruptions.
• Regional perception: Repeated cancellations may influence traveler confidence in UAE hubs as reliable global connectors.

Airlines are actively working to notify passengers and offer rebooking options, but the scale of cancellations means travelers must remain vigilant and flexible when planning trips.

Key Takeaways

• Dubai International Airport experienced multiple long-haul and regional flight cancellations, affecting JFK, Newark, Boston, Jaipur, Calicut, Bahrain, Jeddah, and Entebbe.
• Abu Dhabi International Airport faced repeated cancellations of John F. Kennedy flights, compounding transatlantic travel challenges.
• Al Maktoum International reported delays on a major route to Hong Kong, highlighting that Asia-bound flights are also affected.
• Both regional and international routes are impacted, emphasizing the operational pressures on UAE airports.
• Travelers are advised to monitor airline communications closely and plan for potential rescheduling to navigate the ongoing UAE flight cancellations.