UAE Resumes Limited Flights Amid Travel Disruptions in the Region

Dubai Airport Authority Authorizes Limited Flights Amid Ongoing Travel Disruption

The United Arab Emirates has resumed a limited number of flights at Dubai International airport and Dubai World Central airport, following the ongoing travel chaos in the region. The Dubai airport authority announced on Monday that it had authorized a “small number” of flights to operate from both airports.

Emirates airline also announced the resumption of a limited number of flights, stating that customers with earlier bookings would take priority. Etihad Airways, based in Abu Dhabi, has suspended all commercial flights until Wednesday but will continue to operate some “repositioning, cargo and repatriation” flights subject to operational and safety approvals.

According to flight tracking data, at least 16 Etihad Airways flights departed from Abu Dhabi on Monday to destinations including London, Amsterdam, Moscow, and Riyadh. Meanwhile, two Emirates flights that departed from Dubai landed in India’s Mumbai and Chennai early on Tuesday morning.

The conflict between the United States and Israel on Iran has resulted in countries such as Iraq, Jordan, Qatar, and Bahrain closing their airspace, leading to widespread travel disruptions across the Middle East. Over 11,000 flights have been cancelled since the start of the conflict on Saturday, according to aviation data firm Cirium.

Aviation analyst Tony Stanton noted that the airline sector could face a lasting impact if the conflict drags beyond a few weeks, particularly if key routes become unviable and insurers and regulators raise costs.

Source: Al Jazeera