Last updated: Sunday, 11 October 2026
The airlines are coming back. After months of suspensions that started with the regional airspace closures in February, a wave of European carriers returns to Dubai between late October and December, starting with Lufthansa on 25 October and British Airways on 3 November.
Not everyone, though. Some big names are still grounded until 2027. Here’s who is flying, who is restarting and when, and who you should not be booking yet.
UAE Flight Status Today: The Short Version
- Emirates, Etihad, flydubai and Air Arabia are all operating, with the odd cancellation on Gulf routes.
- Already back: Turkish Airlines, Air Astana, Philippine Airlines and Aegean.
- Returning this season: Lufthansa, SWISS, Eurowings, British Airways, Singapore Airlines and Austrian.
- Still suspended: Air France, KLM, ITA Airways and airBaltic (until at least 24 October), plus Cathay Pacific, Air Canada, Finnair, Wizz Air and Virgin Atlantic into 2027.
Airlines Returning to Dubai: Dates and Routes
These are the confirmed restart dates as of 11 October. Most are Europe-Dubai routes, which is good news if you’re heading home for Christmas or have family flying in for the winter.
| Airline | Route | Restart date | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Turkish Airlines | Istanbul – Dubai and Abu Dhabi | Flying now | Restored |
| Air Astana | Almaty and Astana – Dubai | Flying now (from 1 October) | Check airline |
| Philippine Airlines | Manila – Dubai | Flying now (from 2 October) | Check airline |
| Aegean Airlines | Athens – Dubai | Flying now (from 7 October) | Check airline |
| Lufthansa | Munich – Dubai | 25 October | Up to 5 a week |
| Lufthansa | Frankfurt – Dubai | 26 October | Up to 5 a week |
| SWISS | Zurich – Dubai | 27 October | Daily |
| Eurowings | Berlin – Dubai | 1 November | Daily |
| Eurowings | Stuttgart – Dubai | 1 November | 4 a week |
| Eurowings | Cologne Bonn – Dubai | 3 November | 3 a week |
| British Airways | London – Dubai | 3 November | Daily (twice daily from summer 2027) |
| Singapore Airlines | Singapore – Dubai | 2 December (tentative) | Check airline |
| Austrian Airlines | Vienna – Dubai | 12 December | Up to 5 a week |
British Airways is the big one for UK travellers. It’s been off the Dubai route since February, and it’s coming back with one flight a day this winter. Its Abu Dhabi route is a different story, more on that below.
Singapore Airlines has pushed its restart back more than once, so treat 2 December as a target, not a promise.
Wow-Emirates Expert Tip: If your dates are flexible, book from the second or third week after a restart rather than day one. Opening-week schedules on returning routes are the ones most likely to slip again if anything changes in the region, and moving a later booking is far less painful than rebooking a cancelled one.
Airlines Still Suspended at Dubai and Abu Dhabi
These carriers have not restarted yet. The dates below are when their current suspension ends, not a confirmed first flight. Several have already extended more than once.
| Airline | UAE route | Suspended until |
|---|---|---|
| Air France | Paris – Dubai | At least 24 October |
| KLM | Amsterdam – Dubai | At least 24 October |
| ITA Airways | Rome – Dubai | At least 24 October |
| airBaltic | Riga – Dubai | At least 24 October |
| Cathay Pacific | Hong Kong – Dubai | 31 January 2027 |
| Air Canada | Toronto – Dubai | End of March 2027 |
| Finnair | Helsinki – Dubai | 27 March 2027 |
| Wizz Air | Dubai and Abu Dhabi, all routes | 27 March 2027 |
| Virgin Atlantic | London – Dubai | October 2027 |
| Korean Air | Seoul – Dubai | Until further notice |
| British Airways | London – Abu Dhabi | Winter 2027-28 season |
| Iranian airlines | All UAE routes | Suspended by the UAE since 24 September, no end date |
The Wizz Air one stings. The low-cost carrier had planned a late-October comeback with weekly flights from Europe, then cancelled every Dubai and Abu Dhabi service through to 27 March 2027 because longer routings around restricted airspace made the flights unviable. Its Abu Dhabi routes were later pencilled in for 10 January 2027, but that’s a postponement, not a confirmed restart.
Air France has moved its date twice already, from 13 October to 24 October. If you’re booked on Air France or KLM in late October, check your booking every few days.
Emirates, Etihad, flydubai and Air Arabia: Current Status
The UAE’s own airlines have been flying for months now. Emirates was back to around 93% of its pre-disruption capacity over the summer, and the home carriers are where you’ll find the most reliable schedules right now.
- Emirates: Operating its network from DXB. Gulf routes such as Bahrain and Kuwait have run on reduced schedules, so check yours if you’re flying within the region.
- Etihad: Operating from Abu Dhabi. Most regional flights run normally, with occasional delays on Saudi routes.
- flydubai: Operating, with occasional cancellations on Gulf routes. The airline asks Dubai passengers to allow at least four hours and check in online.
- Air Arabia: Operating from Sharjah, Abu Dhabi and Ras Al Khaimah, with some Kuwait and Bahrain flights cancelled at short notice.
If you’re leaving your car at the airport for a longer trip, our DXB and DWC parking guide has the current rates, and if you’re planning to drive abroad you can sort an international driving permit at Dubai Airport in about five minutes.
Why UAE Flights Were Disrupted
The disruption started on 28 February 2026, when the UAE partially closed its airspace after US and Israeli strikes on Iran. Emirates, Etihad, flydubai and Air Arabia all suspended or cut back flights for weeks, and most foreign airlines pulled out of Dubai and Abu Dhabi entirely.
The home carriers recovered first. Foreign airlines have been slower, partly because of insurance and security reviews, and partly because longer routings around restricted airspace push up fuel costs. That’s why budget carriers like Wizz Air are the last to return. For the wider picture of life here right now, read our guide on whether Dubai is safe right now.
Travel Advisories to Know
Your government’s travel advice can affect your insurance, so it’s worth a check before you book.
- UK: The FCDO has lifted its advice against all but essential travel to the UAE, but warns of possible delays and sudden airspace changes.
- US: The UAE sits at Level 3, Reconsider Travel.
- Australia: Lowered from Level 4 to Level 3.
- Canada: Advises a high degree of caution.
Advisories change without much warning, so check the latest version on your government’s travel site before you fly.
Before You Head to the Airport
- Check your flight status on the airline’s own website or app on the day you fly, not just when you book.
- Make sure your phone number and email are up to date in your booking so schedule changes reach you.
- Allow extra time at DXB. flydubai recommends four hours.
- Read your travel insurance terms, since cover for disruption linked to airspace closures varies a lot between policies.
- Flying with a pet? Airline pet rules on returning routes can differ from before, so check them alongside our Dubai pet travel guide.
Wow-Emirates Expert Tip: If your flight is on a suspended airline, look at the operating carrier on your ticket. Codeshare bookings can often be moved onto a partner airline that’s already flying, and asking for that switch directly usually gets you in the air sooner than waiting for the restart.
FAQs
When is British Airways flying to Dubai again?
British Airways restarts London – Dubai flights on 3 November 2026, with one flight a day this winter and two a day from summer 2027. Its Abu Dhabi route stays suspended until the winter 2027-28 season.
When does Lufthansa resume flights to Dubai?
Lufthansa restarts Munich – Dubai on 25 October and Frankfurt – Dubai on 26 October, with up to five flights a week. Group airlines SWISS (27 October), Eurowings (1 and 3 November) and Austrian (12 December) follow.
Are Emirates flights operating normally?
Mostly, yes. Emirates is operating its network from Dubai and was back to around 93% of its pre-disruption capacity over the summer. Some Gulf routes have run reduced schedules, so check your specific flight.
When will Air France and KLM fly to Dubai again?
Both are suspended until at least 24 October 2026. Air France has already extended its date twice, so there’s no confirmed first flight yet.
Is Wizz Air flying to Dubai or Abu Dhabi?
No. Wizz Air has cancelled all Dubai and Abu Dhabi flights between 25 October 2026 and 27 March 2027.
Which airlines are still not flying to Dubai?
As of 11 October 2026: Air France, KLM, ITA Airways and airBaltic (until at least 24 October), Singapore Airlines (until 2 December), Cathay Pacific (until 31 January 2027), Air Canada and Finnair (until late March 2027), Wizz Air (until 27 March 2027), Virgin Atlantic (until October 2027) and Korean Air (no date).
What should I do if my flight to or from Dubai is cancelled?
Contact the airline you booked with, or your travel agent, for a free rebooking or a refund. If you booked a package or have travel insurance, contact them too. Our expat crisis guide covers what else to have ready if plans change suddenly.
Disclaimer: Airline schedules are changing frequently. Dates on this page reflect airline announcements as of the last updated date above. Always confirm your flight directly with your airline before travelling.
Images: Wow Emirates Archives
