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Friday, 10:40pm
Air India Express has announced that it will begin operating 43 flights across the GCC region on 7 March. Altogether, the airline will connect Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Jeddah, Muscat, Ras Al Khaimah and Sharjah.

Air India is among the largest full-service airlines in India. After its acquisition by the Tata Group in 2022, it has been expanding rapidly with major aircraft orders and network growth. It currently has over 500 daily flights that connect 45 domestic and 17 international destinations.

Friday, 16:00pm
Some newsflashes from Reuters on Friday afternoon paint a picture how well the UAE’s airspace is adapting to current circumstances.

One update on Friday afternoon read: “EMIRATES SAYS IT CARRIED APPROXIMATELY 30,000 PASSENGERS OUT OF DUBAI ON THURSDAY.”

Another note: “EMIRATES ANTICIPATES A RETURN TO 100% OF ITS NETWORK WITHIN THE COMING DAYS – AIRLINE SPOKESPERSON”

Note by Gareth van Zyl, group editor of Gulf Business.

Friday, 12:44pm

Over the past 84 hours, Dubai’s skies have been buzzing with activity like never before. At both Dubai International Airport (DXB) and Dubai World Central (DWC), more than 1,140 flights have taken off, carrying travelers back to their homes across the globe.

Between March 2 and 5, over 500 flights departed from these bustling hubs, offering 105,000 seats to passengers bound for more than 80 countries. Each day, the number of travelers and flights continues to climb, a testament to the city’s tireless effort to reconnect the world.

Dubai Airports has assured everyone that more flights are being added to the schedule daily. Travellers are encouraged to check the status of their flights with their respective airlines, as the city works around the clock to ensure smooth journeys home.

In a world increasingly defined by movement and connection, Dubai’s airports have once again become the heartbeat of international travel, guiding thousands safely back to where they belong.

Friday, 11:00am

Airlines across the Middle East are racing to restore limited services, organise relief flights, and manage widespread cancellations after temporary airspace closures disrupted regional aviation.

Several major carriers, including Etihad Airways, Qatar Airways, Kuwait Airways, flynas and Oman Air, have issued updates in recent days outlining contingency plans as authorities across the region continue to monitor the situation.

While some airlines have begun restoring flights cautiously, others have suspended routes or implemented emergency travel arrangements to assist stranded passengers.

Etihad Airways restarts limited operations

Etihad Airways announced it will resume a limited commercial flight schedule starting March 6, 2026, reconnecting Abu Dhabi with dozens of key global destinations.

The Abu Dhabi-based airline said the decision followed extensive safety assessments conducted in coordination with relevant authorities.

“The decision has been taken in coordination with relevant authorities following extensive safety and security assessments,” the airline said in a statement. “Etihad continues to monitor the situation closely and will only operate flights once all safety criteria are met.”

Passengers with previous bookings will be accommodated on the reinstated services as quickly as possible, while tickets are also available for purchase through the airline’s website.

The airline plans to operate flights between Abu Dhabi and a wide range of international destinations between March 6 and March 19, including cities such as London, New York, Bangkok, Sydney, Toronto, Paris, Mumbai, Singapore and Tokyo.

However, Etihad stressed that operations remain subject to approvals and evolving airspace conditions.

“All services remain subject to operational approvals and may be adjusted depending on regional airspace conditions,” the airline said.

Travelers are encouraged to confirm flight details before heading to the airport and ensure that their contact information is updated in their bookings to receive notifications.

Guests holding Etihad tickets issued on or before February 28, 2026, with original travel dates up to 21 March 2026, may rebook their journeys free of charge onto Etihad-operated flights until  May 15, 2026.

Passengers traveling until March 21, can also request refunds through the airline’s official channels or their travel agent.

Safety remains the airline’s top priority, according to the statement.

“The safety of our guests and crew remains our absolute priority, and services will operate only once all safety criteria are met,” Etihad said.

Qatar Airways organises relief flights

Meanwhile, Qatar Airways has begun operating a limited number of relief flights to assist passengers affected by the disruption.

The airline said the flights were organised following temporary airspace closures across parts of the region.

“Due to the current situation and temporary airspace closures by the relevant authorities affecting parts of the region, Qatar Airways has started to organise and operate a limited number of relief flights,” the airline said.

Officials added that the airline is working continuously to increase capacity as operational conditions allow.

“We are working around the clock to organise additional relief flights where operationally possible,” the statement added.

Passengers affected by cancellations will be contacted directly by the airline with details regarding new travel arrangements.

Travelers have been advised not to go to the airport unless they receive official confirmation of their flight.

For passengers currently in Doha, airline representatives have been stationed in designated hotels to assist with questions regarding relief flights and travel arrangements.

“The safety and wellbeing of our passengers and crew remain our highest priority,” Qatar Airways said, apologising for disruptions caused by circumstances beyond the airline’s control.

Kuwait Airways arranges ground transfer for citizens

Kuwait Airways has also introduced emergency arrangements aimed specifically at helping Kuwaiti citizens return home during the ongoing disruption.

The airline said passengers holding confirmed reservations and valid tickets will be transported to airports in Saudi Arabia before completing their journey to Kuwait by land.

“In line with Kuwait Airways’ national responsibility and commitment to supporting the safe return of Kuwaiti citizens during the current exceptional regional circumstances, arrangements have been made to facilitate their return,” the airline said.

Eligible travelers must register their preference to use the service before 6 March 2026, according to the airline.

Kuwait Airways also provided customer service channels for assistance, including telephone and WhatsApp support.

Officials said the initiative reflects the airline’s commitment to ensuring citizens can return home safely despite the aviation disruptions.

flynas extends flight suspension

Saudi Arabia’s low-cost carrier flynas has taken a different approach, extending the suspension of flights to several destinations due to ongoing airspace closures.

The airline confirmed that flights to and from the UAE, Doha, Bahrain, Kuwait, Iraq and Syria will remain suspended until 21:00 UTC (23:59 Saudi Arabia time) on March 9, 2026.

The decision, flynas said, was taken after reviewing the latest developments affecting regional airspace.

“Due to the continued closure of airspace in certain international destinations as a result of the current events, it has been decided to extend the suspension of flights,” the airline said.

Passengers are advised to verify flight status through the airline’s website before heading to the airport.

The airline reiterated that passenger safety remains its top operational priority.

“flynas reiterates that the safety of its guests and operational crew remains its top priority,” the airline said.

Oman Air cancels several regional routes

Oman Air has also announced cancellations affecting multiple regional and international destinations over several days.

Flights scheduled between March 6 and March 8, 2026 to and from Amman, Dubai, Bahrain, Doha, Dammam, Kuwait, Copenhagen, Baghdad and Khasab have been cancelled.

The airline said that all other services will continue to operate but warned passengers that delays remain possible.

“The safety and well-being of our guests and crew remain our highest priority,” Oman Air said in its update.

The airline added that it is monitoring the situation closely alongside relevant authorities and will continue issuing updates as conditions evolve.

Passengers are encouraged to manage bookings through the airline’s website or mobile application.

“We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience caused and appreciate your understanding and cooperation during this time,” the airline said.

Friday, 8:00am

In a statement, Oman Airports published the following update on Friday:

Oman Airports would like to confirm that Muscat International Airport, Salalah International Airport and Sohar Airport remain fully operational and open for business during the current regional disruption. As one of the few airports in the region currently operating 24 hours a day without slot constraints, Oman Airports is well positioned to support airlines requiring operational flexibility, additional capacity, or temporary network adjustments. For new airlines considering operations to Oman, Oman Airports will work closely with the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) of Oman to help facilitate and expedite regulatory approvals wherever possible. Given the current disruption to regional air connectivity, Oman can also serve as an alternative entry point to the Gulf, with onward land transportation connections possible to several GCC destinations”.

Friday, 7:50am

Abu Dhabi’s Etihad Airways has announced that its flights will resume on a limited flight schedule from 6 March. Posted below is a press statement from the airline:

Etihad Airways will resume a limited commercial flight schedule from 6 March 2026, operating between Abu Dhabi and a number of key destinations.

Guests with previous bookings will be accommodated on these flights as soon as possible. Tickets are also available for sale on etihad.com.

Passengers and members of the public should not travel to the airport unless they have been contacted directly by Etihad or hold a confirmed booking on one of these new flights.

The decision has been taken in coordination with relevant authorities following extensive safety and security assessments. Etihad continues to monitor the situation closely and will only operate flights once all safety criteria are met.

The most up-to-date information is available at etihad.com.

The following destinations are scheduled to operate to and from Abu Dhabi between 6 March and 19 March:

Ahmedabad, Bangkok, Bengaluru, Cairo, Colombo, Delhi, Frankfurt, Hanoi, Hyderabad, Jeddah, Kuala Lumpur, London (Heathrow), Madrid, Malé, Milan (Malpensa), Moscow (Sheremetyevo), Mumbai, New York (JFK), Paris, Phuket, Riyadh, Rome, Seoul (Incheon), Toronto and Zurich.

*All services remain subject to operational approvals and may be adjusted depending on regional airspace conditions.

All other scheduled commercial services to and from Abu Dhabi remain suspended.

Affected guests will receive direct communication from Etihad confirming the status of their flight and outlining available options. Guests are encouraged to ensure their contact details are up to date and monitor their email for further updates.

Guests are advised to:

Check their flight status at etihad

com before travelling to the airport Ensure their contact details are up to date in their booking Guests holding Etihad tickets issued on or before 28 February 2026, with original travel dates up to 21 March 2026, may rebook free of charge onto Etihad-operated flights up to 15 May 2026. Guests on all Etihad flights until 21 March may request a refund at etihad.com/en/help/refund-form or through their travel agent. Guests who booked through a travel agent should contact their agent directly We are currently experiencing a high volume of calls and appreciate your patience as it may take longer than usual for calls to be answered. Guests seeking a refund are encouraged to use the above linked refund request form. Safety remains our absolute priority, and services will operate only once all safety criteria are met.