A limited number of international flights have begun departing from key Middle Eastern hubs this week, offering a degree of relief to thousands of stranded travellers after days of airspace closures caused by ongoing military tensions in the region. Airlines such as Emirates, flydubai and Etihad Airways have restarted a small number of repatriation and repositioning flights from airports including Dubai International Airport and Abu Dhabi’s Zayed International Airport, despite most scheduled commercial services remaining suspended amid continued conflict and safety concerns.
The resumption follows a period in which widespread airspace closures across the Middle East—including in the UAE and neighbouring states—left travellers, business visitors, migrant workers and pilgrims stuck in airports, hotels and transit zones as airlines cancelled and rerouted thousands of flights. Governments and carriers are prioritising evacuation efforts to bring home foreign nationals and reduce the backlog of passengers affected by the disruption.
While this limited restart is providing a measure of hope for travellers eager to continue their journeys, aviation authorities caution that normal flight operations will depend on how the security situation evolves in the coming days.
News as reported
