Emirates forced to suspend flight operations after UAE airspace closures hit regional routes

Dubai-based carrier Emirates has temporarily suspended flights to and from Dubai due to multiple regional airspace closures, the airline announced on Saturday. The disruptions come after US and Israeli strikes on Iran, what US President Donald Trump described as a “major combat operation”, forcing airlines to reroute services that would normally cross the region. With missiles launched from Israel towards Iran and retaliatory strikes from Iran, carriers have been steering clear of the affected airspace, prompting countries including Iran and Iraq to close their airspace. The move forced airlines to reroute or cancel numerous services, with Emirates among the carriers affected. Several flights between India, the UK, Europe, the Middle East, and North America also faced severe interruptions following the escalated conflict.Dubai Airports confirmed that several Emirates flights to destinations in the region, including Jordan and Lebanon, were cancelled. In its statement, the airline said it is “actively monitoring developments and coordinating with relevant authorities” and assured customers that it is assisting with rebooking, refunds, or alternative travel arrangements. Passengers have been urged to check the airline’s official travel update and flight status portals before heading to the airport.“The safety and security of our passengers and crew remain our highest priority,” the airline said.The airline wrote in an X post, “Due to multiple regional airspace closures, Emirates has temporarily suspended operations to and from Dubai. Emirates urges customers to check emirat.es/travelupdates and emirat.es/flightstatus for the latest updates before proceeding to the airport. We are actively monitoring the situation and engaging with relevant authorities. We apologise to customers affected by disruptions for any inconvenience caused, and we are assisting them with rebooking, refunds, or alternative travel arrangements. The safety and security of our passengers and crew remain our highest priority.”Airlines across the Gulf have been adjusting schedules as missiles launched from Israel toward Iran, and subsequent retaliatory strikes by Iran, continue to affect commercial airspace.