Iran – Israel War: Flight Operations Partially Resumed from Dubai, Abu Dhabi
Manas Dasgupta
NEW DELHI, Mar 2: Air travel across the United Arab Emirates disrupted in the last few days due to escalation of Iran – Israel US war, is slowly resuming with a limited number of flights taking off from Dubai and Abu Dhabi since Monday evening.
Authorities and airlines announced that select services would resume from Monday evening, offering relief to thousands of passengers stranded after widespread airspace closures across the Gulf.
Dubai government’s media office confirmed that Flydubai would begin operating a limited schedule. “Flydubai will operate a limited number of flights on the evening of 02 March 2026. Customers are advised to update their contact details via Manage Your Booking and check Flight status at http://flydubai.com before travelling to the airport,” the office wrote on X.
Emirates airline also said it would resume a small number of services while prioritising passengers already holding bookings. “We are accommodating customers with earlier bookings as a priority, and those who have been rebooked to travel on these limited flights will be contacted directly by Emirates. Please do not go to the airport unless you have been notified,” the airline said in a statement.
The carrier added that most operations remain suspended. “All other flights remain suspended until further notice. Emirates continues to monitor the situation, and we will develop our operational schedule accordingly. Updates will be published on http://emirates.com and our official social media channels. We would like to thank our customers for their understanding and patience. The safety and security of our passengers and crew remain our highest priority,” the statement said.
Abu Dhabi airports also said “operations partially resumed” on Monday. At least 15 Etihad Airways passenger aircraft took off from Abu Dhabi within a three-hour window, likely to clear transit passengers who have been stuck there since the start of the conflict.
The Indian ministry for civil aviation said the situation in the Middle East region continues to be closely monitored to facilitate relief for passengers. It said due to the ongoing situation, 357 flights planned for operation on Monday were cancelled.
“We at the Ministry of Civil Aviation are closely monitoring passenger grievances through the Passenger Assistance Control Room (PACR) and ensuring prompt redressal on priority. A total of 559 grievances have been addressed during this period through AirSewa, social media platforms, and dedicated helpline calls, in coordination with airlines and concerned stakeholders,” it said on X
“Passengers are advised to check official airline channels for accurate updates regarding cancellations and rescheduling. For assistance, they may contact the Ministry’s PACR helpline numbers at 011-24604283 / 011-24632987,” the ministry added.
Air India Express has said it would resume flight operations to and from Muscat starting Tuesday with scheduled services to Delhi, Kochi, Kozhikode, Mangaluru, Mumbai and Tiruchirappalli. The first Air India Express flight from Muscat will operate to Tiruchirappalli, departing at 10:25 hours local time, it said. “Guests are advised to check the latest status of their flights on www.airindiaexpress.com and ensure that their contact details are updated to receive real‑time notifications.
“Meanwhile, flight operations to Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE remain suspended until 23:59 hrs IST (18:29 hrs UTC) on March 3, 2026. Air India Express regrets the inconvenience caused to guests due to these disruptions and appreciates their understanding and cooperation,” an Air India Express spokesperson said.
According to Flight Radar 24, a total of 15 Etihad Airways passenger aircraft have taken off from Abu Dhabi within a three-hour window, likely helping to clear transit passengers who have been stuck there since the start of the conflict. “Other aircraft that have departed Abu Dhabi today are 2 Etihad Airways cargo aircraft, 2 IndiGo Airbus A320s (probably empty), 1 Lufthansa A380 (after maintenance),” it said. According to official information from Etihad Airways all flights to and from Abu Dhabi are suspended until 14:00 UAE time on Tuesday 3 March, with special flights scheduled.
The flight operations were suspended following a series of Iranian attacks on the Dubai International Airport, one of the busiest aviation hubs in the world, which was struck twice during the conflict. The UAE temporarily and partially closed its airspace on Saturday as a precautionary measure, triggering mass cancellations and leaving lakhs of travellers stranded at Dubai International Airport.
Airports in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Kuwait and Manama were all affected during the escalation. One death was reported in Abu Dhabi linked to an incident at an airport facility. Dubai International Airport (DXB), ranked the world’s second-busiest airport after Atlanta according to Airports Council International, serves as a major global transit hub connecting Europe, Asia and Africa.
