Tensions continue in the area, with Israel and the US maintaining their strikes on Iran which commenced over a fortnight ago. Iran continues to hit back with drone and missile attacks on several neighbouring and nearby nations. This conflict has impacted international travel, with declines in passenger numbers and flights through the Middle East and to Cyprus and Turkey, but surges to Spain, Portugal, and the Caribbean.
The UK government warned that regional escalation poses significant security risks and has led to travel disruption. Thousands of flights in the Middle East have been cancelled in the past week, leaving many Britons stranded. Dubai temporarily closed its airspace for the second time in 48 hours due to strikes in the vicinity.
According to BBC News, there are still no commercial flights leaving Qatar due to temporary closure of Qatari airspace. Simon Calder, a journalist with the Independent who has just returned from the United Arab Emirates, described the scene at London Heathrow. 'I've just arrived at London Heathrow Terminal 4 after a fairly normal flight from Abu Dhabi on Etihad.
What wasn't normal was just how quiet it was when I arrived. Terminal 4, the main hub for the Middle East from London, is frankly a bit of a ghost town. Many of the flights that you would normally expect to see multiple departures on Qatar Airways to Doha and on Etihad to Abu Dhabi are not flying,' he said.
Regional escalation poses significant security risks and has led to travel disruption. Stay away from areas around security or military facilities.
Airlines are gradually restarting services, although many routes remain suspended or operating on reduced schedules. Emirates has begun operating a reduced flight schedule after parts of regional airspace reopened. Etihad Airways is operating limited flights to London Heathrow and Manchester from Abu Dhabi, but all other scheduled services remain suspended.
Qatar Airways is operating one flight a day to and from London Heathrow to Doha, but scheduled operations remain temporarily suspended. Airlines Etihad and Emirates have confirmed they will be running a limited number of services from Abu Dhabi and Dubai to the UK over the next few days. Etihad will begin operating limited flights from Abu Dhabi starting from Friday to London Heathrow, Manchester, and European cities.
Emirates has announced new commercial flights out of Dubai to UK cities, prioritizing earlier bookings. Official travel advisories complicate the situation. The UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, and Bahrain are on the UK Foreign Office no-go list, and travel insurance may be invalid if this advice is ignored.
The UK Foreign Office advises against all but essential travel to the United Arab Emirates, warning that travel insurance could be invalidated. Dubai remains on the no travel list unless it is essential. Simon Calder noted, 'Having said that, there's perhaps more flights than you might expect, given that, for example, Qatar and the UAE are on the Foreign Office no-go list.
Customers transiting in Dubai will only be accepted for travel if their connecting flight is operating. Please do not go to the airport unless you hold a confirmed booking for these flights.
There's a departure this evening to Abu Dhabi on Etihad and one a little later on Qatar Airways overnight to Doha. As well as that, El Al is going out to Tel Aviv. ' He added, 'And finally, Gulf Air is flying from here later on today, but not to the normal destination of Bahrain.
Instead, it's going to Dammam, which is very close by in Saudi Arabia, from where passengers can travel to that island quite happily over the causeway. But bear in mind that the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, and Bahrain are all on the Foreign Office no-go list. ' The UK government chartered one flight from Muscat, Oman, to Stansted, delayed by 24 hours due to technical issues.
A government minister said commercial flights are the most likely and rapid routes out. Etihad passengers with previous bookings will be prioritized, and travelers should not go to the airport without a confirmed booking. Passengers transiting in Dubai will only be accepted if their connecting flight is operating.
An Emirates spokesperson stated, 'Customers transiting in Dubai will only be accepted for travel if their connecting flight is operating. ' Most tour operators are allowing Brits to cancel Dubai holidays for a full refund.