The General Authority of Civil Aviation has announced the commencement of special flights at the country’s airports, aimed at facilitating the departure of travelers who are stranded or affected by the recent events in the region. Flight schedules will be published by airlines for the impacted passengers and relevant destinations.
The authority has urged affected travelers not to head to the airports until they are contacted with the details and schedules of their flights by the airlines. This is to avoid congestion and ensure smooth operations.
The authority appreciates the cooperation of travelers, stating that adherence to the issued instructions is essential for streamlining processes and maintaining operational continuity.
Dubai Airports
Dubai Airports announced a limited resumption of flights yesterday at both Dubai International Airport and Al Maktoum International Airport.
Travelers have been advised not to go to the airport unless they receive communication from their airline confirming their flight’s departure time, due to ongoing changes in flight schedules. They are encouraged to contact airlines directly for the most current information regarding their flights.
Dubai Airports is closely monitoring the current situation in coordination with all relevant authorities while ensuring the highest operational safety standards, emphasizing that the security and safety of travelers, flight crews, and staff are top priorities.
National carriers Emirates, Flydubai, Air Arabia, and Etihad Airways have temporarily suspended their operations to and from the country’s airports amid ongoing airspace closures. They assured that the safety of passengers and crews remains a top priority, offering flexible options for rebooking or refunds for affected travelers.
Emirates Airlines
Emirates Airlines has indicated that it resumed a limited number of flights last night as part of its phased plan to return to operations.
The airline stated that priority would be given to customers with existing bookings, noting that passengers who have been rebooked on these limited flights will be contacted directly.
The carrier advised customers not to go to the airport unless they receive official notification of their flight time, confirming that all other flights remain suspended until further notice.
Emirates continues to monitor developments closely and will update its operational schedules accordingly, with any updates made available on its official website and verified social media accounts.
Previously, Emirates announced the extension of the suspension of all operations from and to Dubai until 3:00 PM UAE time due to continued regional airspace closures.
The airline also mentioned that the situation remains fluid and is subject to ongoing assessment in coordination with relevant authorities, urging travelers to check its website for the latest updates and verify their email for notifications regarding changes or cancellations prior to heading to the airport.
Passengers affected have the option to rebook on alternative flights to their original destinations by March 20.
Those who booked through travel agents must contact the agent directly, while direct bookings with the airline can be modified or refund requests submitted through the appropriate channels.
The airline emphasized the importance of checking flight status before heading to the airport, noting that all airport check-in facilities in Dubai are temporarily closed until further notice, and offering apologies for any inconvenience caused by these disruptions.
Flydubai
Flydubai announced the operation of a limited number of flights yesterday evening. A company spokesperson stated: “The safety of our passengers and crew remains our highest priority. We are working closely with authorities to ensure a gradual and effective return to flights. The situation is still changing, and we are carefully monitoring it and adjusting our flight schedules accordingly.”
The airline advised customers to update their contact information via the “Manage Booking” section and check their flight status on flydubai.com before going to the airport.
Flydubai had previously extended the suspension of all its flights to and from Dubai until 3 PM today due to the temporary closure of airspace in the UAE.
Necessary Care
A spokesperson mentioned that the airline is closely following the situation and working with relevant authorities to adjust its flight schedules accordingly, indicating that its teams are doing their best to provide necessary care for affected passengers amidst high demand on contact centers.
Customers with bookings within the next 72 hours are encouraged to utilize several options, including rebooking onto an alternative flight to the same or another destination within the country within 10 days of the original travel date, along with updating contact details through the “Manage Your Booking” page and checking flight status before going to the airport or contacting customer service or their travel agent for rebooking or refund options.
Air Arabia
Air Arabia similarly announced the suspension of its flights to and from the UAE until 3 PM today due to multiple regional airspace closures.
The airline has also decided to suspend flights to Lebanon, Jordan, Syria, and Iraq until March 4, based on operational developments.
Passengers with flights scheduled within the next 24 hours will receive direct notifications via email and SMS regarding alternative options, and customers are advised to update their contact information through the “Manage Booking” service and check flight statuses regularly, especially given the increased pressure on contact centers.
Etihad Airways
Etihad Airways informed that they resumed some flights yesterday.
They noted that there may be some repositioning, cargo, or repatriation flights in coordination with relevant authorities after receiving necessary operational and security approvals, adding that all scheduled commercial flights to and from Abu Dhabi remain canceled.
Etihad announced disruptions to its operations due to regional airspace closures and has suspended all flights to and from Abu Dhabi until 2 PM today.
The airline advised passengers to check their flight status via its website and ensure their contact information is updated in their booking.
It further noted that passengers with tickets issued on or before February 28, whose travel dates originally fell until March 7, can rebook free of charge on Etihad flights until March 18.
The airline has also provided a full refund option for flights until March 7, available either through the refund form or through the travel agent, reinforcing that services will only resume after meeting all safety standards.
These coordinated measures among the airlines reflect the commitment of the UAE aviation sector to manage emergency operational developments with the highest safety and flexibility standards, ensuring continuous communication with passengers until stability is restored and full operations resume.