Gulf Airlines Resume Limited Flights After Iran Strikes Close Airspace
Major Gulf carriers, including Emirates, flydubai, and Etihad Airways, have announced a limited resumption of flights late on Monday, primarily focused on repatriating passengers stranded by the escalating regional conflict. The airspace across parts of the Middle East, such as the United Arab Emirates, had been closed following US-Israeli attacks on Iran and Tehran's retaliatory strikes, which forced key airports like Dubai and Doha to shut down.
Special Flights for Stranded Travellers
State news agency WAM reported that the UAE civil aviation authority will operate special flights across its airports to assist tens of thousands of affected travellers. Dubai Airports confirmed that a limited resumption would begin later on Monday, with flights permitted from Dubai International (DXB) and Al Maktoum International (DWC).
DXB, which handled nearly 100 million passengers in 2025, sustained minor damage on Sunday after being hit, along with other hubs, by Iranian retaliatory attacks. Emirates and flydubai stated they would resume a small number of flights on Monday evening.
Flight Details and Repatriation Efforts
flydubai indicated that four flights to Russian destinations, including Kazan, would depart from DXB. Meanwhile, services from three Pakistani airports and from Hargeisa in Somaliland were scheduled to return to Dubai.
Abu Dhabi-based Etihad said in a statement, Some repositioning, cargo and repatriation flights may operate in coordination with UAE authorities and subject to strict operational and safety approvals, adding that all scheduled commercial services to and from Abu Dhabi remained cancelled. The airline's website showed that several flights had departed from Abu Dhabi's Zayed International Airport on Monday for destinations including London and Paris, with more scheduled, though Etihad did not specify which flights were being used for repatriations. Earlier, the airline had announced that all flights to and from Abu Dhabi were suspended until 10am on Tuesday.
Additional Aviation Movements
In related developments, a Lufthansa A380 departed Abu Dhabi earlier on Monday with only two pilots on board. The company explained it was transferring the plane to Munich and that passenger transport was not possible. This highlights the broader disruptions in the aviation sector amid the ongoing conflict.
Additional reporting by Alexander Cornwell in Tel Aviv provides further context on the regional tensions affecting travel and safety protocols.
