RIYADH: Amid a fragile truce between the US and Iran, the aviation sector in the Middle East continues to move cautiously between resuming operations and suspensions, with a clear disparity in the pace of recovery among countries and airlines.
While some carriers have begun partially resuming flights, others continue operating on reduced or alternative schedules, amid operational restrictions and concerns over airspace safety, according to Asharq Bloomberg.
In a related development, the EU Aviation Safety Agency extended its guidance instructing airlines to avoid Middle Eastern and Gulf airspace until April 24, reinforcing a state of anticipation among foreign carriers, particularly European ones, and signaling that a return to normal operating levels will not occur before these recommendations are lifted.
UAE carriers cut schedules
Emirates, in its latest update on its website dated April 10, reaffirmed that it is operating a reduced flight schedule to and from Dubai airports.
On the same day, Air Arabia published an update stating that it is operating a limited number of flights to and from the UAE, in line with operational and regulatory approvals.
Last week, Dubai imposed temporary operational restrictions on foreign airlines, limiting flights to its two main airports — Dubai International Airport and Al Maktoum International Airport — to one daily flight per airline, during the period from April 20 to May 31.
This comes amid the repercussions of the Iranian crisis and its impact on regional air traffic, according to messages reviewed by Reuters.
In terms of operations, UAE carriers’ flights on April 12 remained consistent with their averages since the start of the war.
Emirates operated 383 flights to and from Dubai, followed by Etihad Airways with 212 flights, Air Arabia with 138 flights, and flydubai with 144 flights, according to data from FlightRadar24.
Starting May 1, Etihad Airways plans to increase its flights between Abu Dhabi and Kabul to a daily service, driven by strong demand since the route’s launch, according to a post on X.
In a separate post on X, the airline also announced the launch of five new destinations in mainland China starting October, including Shanghai Pudong, Chengdu, Hangzhou, Shenzhen, and Guangzhou.
This will bring its total China operations to 35 weekly flights across six destinations, including its daily service to Beijing.
Qatar flights rebound
Qatar’s General Civil Aviation Authority has not announced any updates regarding travel, as the country’s airspace remains closed to transit flights, while allowing limited operations to and from Doha with special permits.
Qatar Airways recorded a surge in flight numbers over the past five days, maintaining more than 200 daily flights compared to an average of 130 in March. On April 12, it operated 274 flights — the highest level since the war began — according to FlightRadar24 data.
The national carrier stated in its latest posts on X that it continues to gradually strengthen its operations, with plans to expand its network to more than 120 destinations by mid-May. It remains to be seen how expansion plans will be affected by the two-week truce.
Saudi routes partly resume
Saudi Arabian Airlines announced on its website the partial resumption of operations to and from Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Amman starting April 11.
Meanwhile, flynas announced the launch of a new daily direct flight between Riyadh and Al Qaisumah starting April 20, alongside extending the suspension of several international destinations — including Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Doha, Kuwait, Bahrain, Iraq, and Syria — until April 15. The airline has not yet announced any changes to this plan.
Saudi airspace continues to operate normally, with the Kingdom’s airports — particularly Al Qaisumah and Dammam — handling flights from carriers in neighboring countries whose airspace remains closed, such as Kuwait.
Kuwaiti airspace remains closed
Kuwaiti airspace remains closed after conflicting reports last week about a reopening.
The Civil Aviation Authority denied circulating claims regarding the resumption of flights from Kuwait International Airport, confirming that no official approvals have been issued and that the airport has remained closed since Feb. 28 due to regional political and security conditions, according to Al Arabiya.
At present, Kuwait Airways is operating its flights via Dammam Airport, while Jazeera Airways is using both Al Qaisumah and Dammam airports, with remaining journeys completed overland.
However, Jazeera Airways stated on its X account that it expects flights from Kuwait International Airport to resume “soon.”
It also noted on its website that it is preparing to restart operations from Kuwait and will be ready to act quickly once airspace reopens in coordination with relevant government authorities.
The airline added that it has successfully resumed operations, achieving a high level of flexibility and efficiency, transporting 73,655 passengers through five operational hubs — Al Qaisumah, Dammam, Jeddah, and Madinah in Saudi Arabia, in addition to Cairo.
At the same time, it confirmed that cargo operations remain active, transporting food products and agricultural goods to meet Kuwaiti market needs under the current exceptional circumstances, according to KUNA.
Kuwait Airways and Jazeera Airways had previously announced expanded flight schedules in April via Saudi airports to destinations including Colombo, Amman, and several cities in India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh, as well as tourist destinations such as Sharm El-Sheikh, Hurghada, and Tbilisi, with plans to launch and resume additional flights during the month.
EgyptAir halts regional flights
EgyptAir announced the suspension of all its flights from Cairo to several key regional destinations indefinitely amid escalating tensions in the Middle East.
The decision includes flights to Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Beirut, Doha, Amman, Dammam, Bahrain, Baghdad, Erbil, and Kuwait.
The airline explained that the continued security deterioration and its impact on airspace safety in several neighboring countries prompted it to maintain the suspension “until further notice,” according to a statement on its website.
EgyptAir is offering exceptional flexibility on tickets affected by cancellations between Feb. 28 and April 20.
This includes the ability to change bookings to the same or alternative destinations within the Gulf and Middle East on the airline’s flights until May 20, reroute to destinations outside the region without penalties, obtain full refunds, or convert tickets into credit vouchers for future use.
Group bookings can also be shifted to future flights, while non-canceled flights may be modified according to fare conditions with payment of any fare differences.
Lebanon adjusts schedules
In Lebanon, airspace remains open, while Middle East Airlines has made temporary adjustments to departure times for several flights from Beirut to Dubai, Amman, and Riyadh between April 12 and April 15, following the reopening of some regional air routes, according to its published schedule and Lebanon’s Annahar outlet.
The airline confirmed that these changes apply only to outbound flights from Beirut, while all return flights to Beirut from Dubai, Amman, and Riyadh remain unchanged.
Airspace reopens gradually
Iraqi Airways has begun resuming domestic operations, with its first commercial flight from Baghdad in weeks taking place on Thursday, according to FlightRadar24 tracking.
Similarly, Syria has reopened its airspace with strict safety measures in place. In Israel, operations resumed at Ben Gurion Airport, with gradual reopening of Herzliya and Ramon airports starting yesterday, while the resumption of flights at Haifa Airport will be evaluated later.
Bahrain has also announced the reopening of its airspace and the gradual resumption of flights, urging passengers to contact airlines for updates.
Gulf Air has resumed flights to and from Bahrain International Airport, alongside continued operations via Dammam.
The airline publishes daily schedules from Bahrain and Dammam on its X page and allows ticket refunds or rebooking without fees until June 30.
Jordanian airspace continues to operate normally, with Royal Jordanian confirming on its website that flights will continue as long as airspace remains open. It is also allowing free booking changes for flights until May 20, or refunds according to conditions.
Oman Air, in its latest update, extended the suspension of flights to and from Dubai, Bahrain, Doha, Kuwait, Copenhagen, Baghdad, and Khasab from April 15 to April 30, while removing Amman and Dammam from the list. No further updates have been announced.
Airlines brace for summer disruption
Airlines have begun notifying customers of flight cancellations that have disrupted summer travel plans amid mounting operational pressures and rising fuel costs, according to a report by the New Arab citing Agence France-Presse.
In addition to canceling or reducing less profitable routes and raising ticket prices, airlines have been forced to revise expansion plans and aircraft purchases amid uncertainty over jet fuel prices, signaling a turbulent summer for travelers and increasing risks of disputes and compensation claims.
Among the airlines adjusting schedules are Vietnam Airlines, which reduced domestic flights; Volotea, which canceled low-demand routes and consolidated passengers onto fewer flights; and Air New Zealand and Scandinavian Airlines, which adopted similar approaches.
Cathay Pacific has also raised fuel surcharges and canceled some flights, reflecting a broader shift toward capacity management rather than expansion.
Aviation expert and professor at Montpellier Business School in France, Paul Chiambaretto, described the crisis as a “double shock” combining rising fuel costs and declining demand.
Meanwhile, Willie Walsh, Director General of the International Air Transport Association, warned that a return of fuel prices to normal levels could take months even with a ceasefire in place.
Pascal de Izaguirre, president of the French Air Transport Association and CEO of Corsair International, noted that the doubling of kerosene prices has raised fuel’s share to about 45 percent of total costs, warning of broader cancellations if the crisis persists.
