Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha flights cancelled for months as British Airways makes announcement | World | News
British Airways has canceled all flights to Dubai until June due to “ongoing uncertainty” and “airspace instability” in the Gulf. The flag carrier airline also suspended travel to Bahrain, Tel Aviv and Amman until May 31 due to the ongoing conflict in Iran. Flights to Doha have similarly been postponed until the end of April, while flights to Abu Dhabi are not expected to resume until October.
The decision, which marked the most significant airline response to the war in the Middle East, came just hours after Dubai International Airport was closed following an Iranian drone attack on a fuel storage tank. Emergency crews were called to the scene and flights were suspended for several hours while incoming planes were diverted to the smaller Al Maktoum International Airport. No injuries were reported.
A spokesperson for British Airways told the Financial Times that the cancellations were in response to “the ongoing uncertainty of the situation in the Middle East and airspace instability”.
While regional airlines have increased flights using narrow air corridors patrolled by military jets in an attempt to rescue stranded passengers, none of the major European airlines have resumed flights to Dubai since the conflict escalated.
The United Arab Emirates confirmed it closed its airspace early Tuesday morning before reopening to ensure the continuation of flights by regional long-haul carriers Emirates and Etihad.
Israel also said it had launched a “widespread wave” of attacks against Iran, in addition to stepping up attacks on Iran-backed Hezbollah militants in Lebanon.
This situation also seems to have strained Sir Keir Starmer’s relationship with the US President. Donald TrumpThe Prime Minister said he was “not happy” with the Prime Minister after Mr Starmer resisted demands that the UK join a mission protecting shipping in the Gulf.
The Prime Minister said in a statement: “We are working with all our allies, including our European partners, to put together a workable collective plan that can restore freedom of navigation in the region as quickly as possible and mitigate economic impacts.”
