Limited Emirates Flights Resume from Dubai Following Iran Strikes
British travellers stranded in the Gulf region due to escalating conflict have started departing on limited Emirates flights to the United Kingdom. This development comes after airspace closures across the Middle East, triggered by strikes between the United States, Israel, and Iran over the weekend, which shut down several major aviation hubs in the area.
Partial Reopening of Dubai Airport
Although Dubai International Airport (DXB) is not fully operational, limited flight services resumed on Monday evening. An Emirates flight from DXB is scheduled to land in Manchester this afternoon, providing a crucial lifeline for affected passengers.
Other Emirates flights to destinations including London Heathrow, Gatwick, Frankfurt, Jeddah, Paris, and Bengaluru took off on Tuesday morning, as tracked by FlightRadar24. This marks a cautious step towards restoring connectivity in the region.
Airport Advisories and Restrictions
DXB issued a passenger advisory on Monday, stating: Limited airport operations have resumed today (March 2) with a small number of flights operating from DXB and DWC. The advisory emphasised that passengers should not travel to the airport unless they have received a confirmed departure time directly from their airline, as schedules remain highly volatile.
Emirates, the UAE flag carrier, confirmed it would operate a limited number of flights from Monday evening, prioritising customers with earlier bookings. The airline noted that rebooked passengers would be contacted directly for these limited services.
Wider Airspace and Airport Impacts
UAE airspace has partially reopened under restricted corridors since its closure on Saturday. However, significant disruptions persist. According to aviation analytics firm Cirium, 78.13 per cent of flights from the UK to the UAE remain cancelled on Tuesday.
Zayed International Airport in Abu Dhabi advised passengers not to travel unless explicitly instructed by their airline, with access restricted to confirmed travellers only. Etihad Airways added that all scheduled commercial flights to and from Abu Dhabi are suspended until 2pm local time on Thursday, 5 March, though some repositioning, cargo, and repatriation flights may operate under strict approvals.
Ongoing Challenges and Recovery Efforts
The resumption of limited flights highlights the ongoing challenges in the region's aviation sector. Passengers are urged to stay informed through official channels and exercise patience as airlines and authorities work to restore normal operations amidst geopolitical tensions.
