UK–Middle East Travel Disruptions: British Airways Cancels Abu Dhabi Flights Until Later in 2026

Written By: Rituparna Dutta Choudhury

Rituparna Dutta Choudhury

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March 11, 2026 4:24 PM |

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Air travel between United Kingdom and the Middle East continues to experience significant disruption as airlines adjust operations in response to the ongoing regional conflict. In recent weeks, aviation authorities and carriers across the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Israel, and Jordan have been forced to revise schedules, suspend routes, and introduce repatriation flights to assist stranded travelers. Among the most notable developments, British Airways has announced a temporary reduction in services across several Middle Eastern destinations, including the cancellation of its Abu Dhabi flights until later in the year.

The decision reflects broader operational challenges caused by airspace restrictions and heightened security concerns across key transit corridors connecting Europe and Asia. Several airlines, including Qatar Airways, Oman Air, Emirates, Etihad Airways, and Air India, have implemented contingency plans designed to support passengers while maintaining limited connectivity across the region. At the same time, governments and aviation authorities in countries such as Qatar, Oman, and the United Arab Emirates have coordinated efforts to reopen specific air corridors and assist thousands of travelers impacted by the disruptions. As a result, international aviation networks linking London, Doha, Dubai, Muscat, and Delhi are undergoing continuous adjustments while airlines monitor the evolving situation and plan a gradual return to normal operations.

British Airways Suspends Multiple Middle East Routes

Airline operations between the United Kingdom and several destinations in the Middle East have been significantly reduced after British Airways implemented temporary cancellations across its regional network.

An operational update issued on 10 March confirmed that flights connecting London Heathrow with Amman, Bahrain, Doha, Dubai, and Tel Aviv have been suspended until later in the month. In a more extended measure, the airline also cancelled all flights to and from Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates until later in the year.

The decision was described as part of a broader strategy aimed at maintaining passenger safety and operational stability while regional airspace conditions remain uncertain. The adjustments have affected travel routes linking United Kingdom, Jordan, Bahrain, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, and Israel, which are among the most important aviation corridors between Europe and the Middle East.

During the disruption period, a series of repatriation flights have been operated by the airline to assist passengers who were stranded due to sudden route suspensions. These flights have allowed travelers to return from key regional hubs to London Heathrow, helping reduce the backlog of passengers affected by cancellations.

In addition, final repatriation services from Muscat, Oman to London Heathrow were scheduled to operate on 11 and 12 March. After those services, operations were planned to pause as demand for emergency travel gradually declined.

Qatar Airways Continues Limited Repatriation Flights

While many airlines have reduced services, Qatar Airways has continued operating a limited number of repatriation flights through Hamad International Airport in Doha. These services have been made possible after temporary flight corridors were authorized by the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority, allowing aircraft to operate under controlled conditions.

The airline has clarified that these flights should not be interpreted as a full return to normal commercial schedules. Instead, the operations have been designed primarily to move stranded passengers between Qatar and major international destinations.

Flights departing from Doha during this period have connected passengers with cities across several continents. Destinations have included Cairo in Egypt, Toronto in Canada, Dallas Fort Worth in the United States, London Heathrow in the United Kingdom, Paris in France, Madrid in Spain, Rome in Italy, Delhi in India, Jeddah in Saudi Arabia, Muscat in Oman, Hong Kong in China, Seoul in South Korea, Bangkok in Thailand, Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia, and Melbourne in Australia.

Additional departures on subsequent days have included long-haul routes to Johannesburg in South Africa, Sao Paulo in Brazil, New York in the United States, Frankfurt in Germany, Beijing in China, Mumbai in India, Islamabad in Pakistan, Colombo in Sri Lanka, Jakarta in Indonesia, and Manila in the Philippines.

Inbound flights arriving into Doha have followed similar patterns, linking Qatar with major global hubs such as Istanbul in Turkey, Nairobi in Kenya, Milan in Italy, Moscow in Russia, and Kochi in India.

Government officials in Qatar reported that approximately 8000 passengers had become stranded during the disruption. To support these travelers, authorities arranged hotel accommodation and temporarily extended visa validity for affected visitors.

Oman Air Provides Regional Relief Operations

In neighboring Oman, Muscat International Airport has played a key role as an alternative transit hub for travelers unable to depart from airports in the United Arab Emirates. The airport has handled additional flights and ground transportation services aimed at assisting passengers attempting to return home.

During the past week, Oman Air operated nearly 80 additional flights. Through these extra services, more than 97000 passengers were transported across the airline’s network, which includes destinations in Europe, Southeast Asia, and Africa.

The airline also coordinated land transportation for passengers crossing the border from the United Arab Emirates into Oman, enabling them to board onward flights departing from Muscat.

Despite these efforts, several routes were temporarily cancelled between 9 and 15 March. Suspended destinations included Amman in Jordan, Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Doha in Qatar, Dammam and Kuwait in the Gulf region, Copenhagen in Denmark, Baghdad in Iraq, and Khasab in Oman.

Even with those interruptions, most international services within the airline’s broader network have continued to operate as scheduled.

Gradual Recovery for UAE-Based Airlines

Airlines headquartered in the United Arab Emirates have begun restoring portions of their networks as regional airspace restrictions are gradually eased.

Emirates, based in Dubai, indicated that flight operations were expected to return to full capacity in the coming days. During the peak of the disruption, the airline operated a reduced schedule while working to safely reintroduce routes across its global network.

Similarly, Etihad Airways resumed a limited schedule from Zayed International Airport in Abu Dhabi. The airline announced plans to operate flights to more than 70 destinations between 6 and 19 March, reconnecting passengers across Europe, Asia, Africa, and North America.

Regional low-cost carrier Air Arabia also began restoring flights from Sharjah, Abu Dhabi, and Ras Al Khaimah to more than 40 international destinations, although these operations remain subject to regulatory approvals and operational conditions.

Indian Airlines Maintain Essential West Asia Connections

Carriers from India have played a significant role in maintaining travel connectivity between South Asia and the Middle East during the disruption.

On 11 March, Air India and Air India Express scheduled a combined total of 58 flights operating to and from West Asia. These services included routes connecting Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Kozhikode, Kannur, Thiruvananthapuram, Tiruchirappalli, and Kochi with destinations such as Jeddah in Saudi Arabia and Muscat in Oman.

Air India operated round-trip services from Delhi and Mumbai to Jeddah, while Air India Express scheduled flights from Hyderabad and Kozhikode to the same Saudi destination.

Additional services linked several Indian cities with Muscat, reinforcing the role of Oman as an important transit hub during the ongoing regional aviation challenges.

Global Airlines Adjust Middle East Flight Schedules

Several international airlines have also modified schedules due to airspace restrictions affecting the Middle East.

Virgin Atlantic suspended its seasonal service to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates for the remainder of the winter season. Flights to Riyadh in Saudi Arabia were also paused for two weeks while safety assessments continued.

Saudia, the national airline of Saudi Arabia, extended its suspension of flights to Amman, Kuwait, Abu Dhabi, Doha, and Bahrain until 12 March. Flights connecting Moscow in Russia and Peshawar in Pakistan were suspended until 15 March.

Operations for Gulf Air, based in Bahrain, remained temporarily halted while authorities evaluated the safety of reopening affected airspace.

Meanwhile, Wizz Air suspended flights to Israel, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Amman until at least 15 March.

European carriers also implemented schedule changes. Turkish Airlines cancelled flights to destinations including Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Syria, Bahrain, Dammam, and Riyadh.

Air France extended flight suspensions to Dubai and Riyadh until 12 March, while routes to Tel Aviv in Israel and Beirut in Lebanon remained suspended until 13 March.

Similarly, KLM halted flights passing through the airspace of Iran, Iraq, and Israel, while suspending services to Dubai through 11 March and cancelling Tel Aviv flights for the remainder of the winter season.

Airlines belonging to the Lufthansa Group, including Lufthansa, SWISS International Air Lines, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, ITA Airways, and Eurowings, suspended multiple routes across the region. These included flights to Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Dammam, Amman, Erbil, Tel Aviv, Beirut, and Tehran for varying time periods extending into April.

Other carriers, such as Air Canada and Garuda Indonesia, also paused flights to Dubai, Tel Aviv, and Doha until further notice.

The ongoing aviation disruptions across the Middle East have highlighted the interconnected nature of global air travel between Europe, Asia, and Africa. As airlines from the United Kingdom, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Oman, India, and Saudi Arabia continue adjusting their schedules, passenger safety and operational stability remain the primary focus.

With repatriation flights, temporary air corridors, and gradually reopening airspace, international aviation networks linking cities such as London, Doha, Dubai, Muscat, Delhi, and Jeddah are slowly stabilizing. However, airlines including British Airways are expected to maintain cautious operational strategies until regional conditions improve.

Until full normalcy returns, travelers across the Middle East and Europe will likely continue experiencing schedule changes as airlines monitor developments and coordinate with aviation authorities worldwide.