Flying out of the UAE today, July 23? Check your flight before you leave home. UAE airports are open and most flights are running as normal. But Kuwait and Bahrain routes are cancelled, several Dubai flights delayed and a long list of international airlines have suspended their UAE services for weeks or months. Here’s everything you need to know today.
Etihad Airways cancels flights to Kuwait, Bahrain
Etihad Airways has suspended flights EY653 and EY654 between Abu Dhabi and Kuwait International Airport until July 26. They have also halted all services between Abu Dhabi and Bahrain until July 25. The airline said it apologizes for the disruption and its teams are working to assist passengers with travel arrangements. If you are booked on any of these flights please ensure your contact details are updated with Etihad so that you receive SMS or email updates directly. If you get a call from Etihad or the travel agency about your booking that you don’t recognize, don’t give out any personal information until you’ve checked the number with the Who Called Me From This Number UAE tool.
Dubai Airport: Which flights are delayed/cancelled today?
Dubai International Airport is open but some flights are affected. Here is the full list of known delays and cancellations as of this morning.
LATE ARRIVALS: Emirates from New York Jeddah London Heathrow Manchester flydubai to Almaty, Lucknow and Dhaka. flyadeal cancelled out of Riyadh.
flydubai to Bahrain postponed or cancelled. flydubai cancels damascus. flydubai to Jeddah flight delayed flydubai Erbil flight cancelled. flyadeal cancelled to Riyadh. SpiceJet flights to Pune, Kozhikode and New Delhi are delayed.
Sharjah Airport is operating mostly normally today with minor delays and no major cancellations.
Kuwait air defence shoots down drones
Kuwait’s military said Thursday its air defence systems intercepted hostile drones in what it called an Iranian attack. The Kuwaiti Army’s General Staff said the explosions heard by residents were from interception operations, not incoming hits. Kuwaiti authorities urged residents to remain calm and heed official security instructions. There was no immediate word on casualties or damage. Iran did not immediately respond. This is why the Kuwait routes are currently suspended across UAE carriers. On stressful travel days like these, it’s important to have access to your finances. You can check your balance through a quick FAB Balance Check Online without visiting a branch before rebooking or refunding.
Foreign Airlines That Have Halted Flights to UAE
The disruptions are not limited to regional routes. Many major international carriers have been scaling back or suspending service to the UAE for weeks and months to come. The full list is here:
Aegean Airlines cancels Dubai services until Aug 31 Air Astana: Flights to Dubai from Almaty and Astana suspended until 31-Aug Refunds and rebooking are available. Air Canada: Toronto-Dubai suspended until Oct 24. Air France to resume Dubai flights on July 27. Suspended in Riyadh until July 24. Beirut until August 2. airBaltic: Riga-Dubai is cancelled. British Airways: suspended till October 31 Dubai, Bahrain, Amman and Tel Aviv. Doha and Riyadh cut. Jeddah route axed permanently. Cathay Pacific: Dubai not flying till 24 October. until 25 October. Riyadh. Finnair: Dubai suspended until Oct. 24. Winter services in Doha also suspended. ITA Airways: Dubai flights suspended until October 24. KLM: Suspended Dubai, Riyadh and Dammam till August 23. Lufthansa, Swiss: Dubai suspended until 13 September Multiple Middle East routes until 24Oct. Philippine Airlines resumes Manila-Doha flights, Dubai suspension continues until October 2. Scoot: Singapore-Jeddah suspended till Aug 8. Singapore Airlines: Dubai operations suspended until October 24. Riyadh launch postponed to December 1. Turkish Airlines: Flights to Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Damascus, Beirut and Amman have resumed. Iranian services remain suspended. WIZZ AIR: Flights to Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Amman suspended until sometime in September, when operations will resume.
Some flights are running longer than usual
Even if your flight is not cancelled, it might take longer than expected. Airlines are altering the paths of many flights to avoid conflict zones over Iran and parts of the Gulf. Some trips may need an additional one to three hours. That means longer connection times at transit airports, and possible luggage delays if your luggage has to follow a different route. If you’re on a tight connection today, flag it with your airline at check-in so they can note it on your booking. The US State Department also issued a worldwide caution for American citizens warning that the security situation in the Middle East could change without notice and travellers should be prepared for flight cancellations, airspace closures and disruptions at any time. Staying connected when you travel is more important than ever. Before leaving, be sure to read How to Check Balance in Etisalat so that your phone will be active for airline alerts, family updates, and emergency notifications while you are traveling.
What to do now
Check your airline’s app or website for the status of your flight before you head to the airport. Schedules are changing rapidly so please don’t rely on information from 3rd party apps or WhatsApp messages. If your flight is cancelled, you should contact the airline as soon as possible to discuss rebooking, rerouting or refund. On your mobile phone, keep your passport, travel insurance details and airline booking confirmation handy. If you are travelling with a family or small children, leave extra time for queues and last minute gate changes at the airport. The situation in the Gulf is changing on a daily basis and flight schedules are being updated as they happen. Always check the official source before you make any travel decisions today.
Most airports in the UAE are open and most flights are operating. But check before you head. For more travel news and useful UAE guides, check out everlist.ae.
