International airlines extend Middle East flight suspensions into 2027
Air Canada, British Airways and Singapore Airlines are among carriers pushing back restart dates for routes to Dubai and Saudi Arabia.
Major airlines have pushed back the restart of flights to the Middle East, with some suspensions now extending into 2027. Air Canada will not fly to Tel Aviv or Dubai until the end of March next year, while Singapore Airlines has postponed its Dubai service until February 2027. British Airways has ended its route to Jeddah permanently and is operating fewer flights to Doha and Riyadh. Air Canada advised passengers, "Your safety is our top priority," and told them not to go to the airport without a confirmed flight.
Ongoing airspace restrictions related to regional conflicts are forcing carriers to continue avoiding certain corridors. KLM said it is steering clear of the airspace over Iran, Iraq, Israel and parts of the Arabian Gulf. It has resumed flights to Tel Aviv, but these stop in Larnaca, Cyprus, for an overnight crew rest. "We always check the situation and adjust our flights to keep you safe and give you the best options," the airline said. KLM flights to Riyadh and Dammam are cancelled until November 27, and its Dubai service is suspended until March 27, 2027.
Other European airlines have announced similar extensions. Air France flights to Dubai are suspended until November 7, and its Riyadh service is paused until December 12. The airline said affected customers are being contacted and that safety is its absolute priority. Lufthansa has resumed Tel Aviv flights but will not fly to Dubai until November 25, a suspension that also applies to its group airlines Swiss and Eurowings. Italy's national carrier has halted all flights to Riyadh until November 18 and to Dubai until November 30.
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Asian carriers are also making long-term adjustments. Cathay Pacific has extended its suspension on flights from Hong Kong to Dubai and Riyadh until January 31, 2027. The airline said affected travellers can rebook, reroute or get a refund and that it is monitoring the situation. Singapore Airlines cited a fluid regional situation for its decision to delay Dubai flights. "As the situation remains fluid, other flights may be affected," the carrier stated on its website.
Budget airlines are also cancelling routes for the coming winter season. Wizz Air has postponed the restart of its Abu Dhabi and Dubai services, citing extended airspace restrictions that make flights commercially unviable. The Latvian carrier AirBaltic has suspended all flights between Riga and Dubai for the entire 2026/2027 winter season. It said passengers with existing bookings can choose alternative destinations, a refund, or a connection via a partner airline.
British Airways has outlined a revised schedule for several destinations. Its flights to Dubai are set to resume on November 3, starting with one daily service before increasing next summer. Services to Abu Dhabi, however, will not restart until the winter of 2027-2028. The airline's flights to Doha, Tel Aviv, Riyadh and Amman have either resumed or will resume in early November, mostly at reduced frequencies. Flights to Bahrain remain suspended until the end of March 2027.
American airlines are offering extended flexibility for travellers. American Airlines has a travel alert covering trips to Tel Aviv into March 2027, allowing one free change for tickets bought by a certain date. For Doha, existing flexible booking options cover travel through early January 2027. Passengers can rebook in the same cabin or cancel for a refund. Novello Desserts reported in October that airlines had begun extending Middle East flight suspensions into 2027 amid airspace restrictions.
With files from The National and https://www.thetraveler.org/