UAE Eases Air Traffic Restrictions Following Iran Conflict

UAE Lifting Flight Restrictions After Iran Conflict

The General Civil Aviation Authority of the United Arab Emirates announced on Saturday that all flight restrictions in place since the start of the conflict between the US and Israel and Iran have been lifted. The decision was made following a comprehensive assessment of operational and security conditions, in coordination with relevant authorities.

As of Saturday, air operations have returned to normal status in UAE airspace. This marks a significant milestone for Dubai International Airport, which has been operating under restrictions since late February, and Abu Dhabi International Airport, which also experienced disruptions during the same period.

The conflict between the US and Israel and Iran led to major disruption in aviation across the Middle East, with Tehran’s retaliatory strikes on Gulf countries forcing the closure of large portions of the region’s airspace. At least eight states announced full or partial airspace closures, including the UAE, Iraq, Jordan, Qatar, Bahrain, and Kuwait.

According to data from Cirium, over 11,000 flights in and out of the region were cancelled during the opening days of the conflict. The UAE initially declared a temporary and partial closure of its airspace at the beginning of the conflict but later announced a gradual reopening in March.

The announcement comes after a Pakistan-brokered ceasefire brought an end to the conflict last month. Qatar Airways has also confirmed plans to resume flights to three Iraqi cities from May 10, following previously announced plans to serve more than 150 destinations across six continents from mid-June.

Source: Al Jazeera