Airlines are slowly reinstating services in parts of the Middle East following the conflict triggered by U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran, but a number of major carriers are proceeding cautiously and maintaining route suspensions into the autumn and, in some cases, well into next year.
While many operators have resumed flights through segments of the Gulf, disruptions persist for several destinations. Dubai in particular continues to face substantial operational impacts, with multiple European and Asian carriers delaying the restart of services until late October or later.
Extended suspensions
- Lufthansa Group - Multiple Middle East routes across Lufthansa, SWISS, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines and ITA Airways remain suspended through October 24.
- IAG / British Airways - Services to Dubai, Tel Aviv, Bahrain and Amman are suspended until October 25. The airline plans reduced frequencies when those routes are reinstated.
- Singapore Airlines - Flights to Dubai are suspended until October 24.
- Cathay Pacific - Dubai services are suspended through October 25 and flights to Riyadh are suspended until October 26.
- Wizz Air - Dubai and Abu Dhabi services from mainland Europe are suspended until October 24; flights to Amman are suspended until September 21.
- Air Canada - Services to Tel Aviv and Dubai remain cancelled until mid-January 2027.
- KLM - Flights to Dubai, Riyadh and Dammam are suspended until October 24. KLM resumed flights to Tel Aviv on August 25.
- Finnair - Dubai flights that are typically part of its winter schedule have been suspended until March 27, 2027.
Airlines moving toward resumption
Air France is advancing toward restarting its Middle East network. Its Beirut services are suspended until September 1, while flights to Riyadh and Dubai were suspended until August 25 as it coordinates a phased return.
Market context and implications
Although some carriers have already reopened routes across portions of the Gulf, the overall pace of restoration remains uneven. Major operators are taking a cautious approach to schedule recovery, prioritizing safety and operational considerations as they map service timelines into the autumn and, in some instances, into 2027. The uneven resumption affects passenger connectivity and may influence capacity planning and seasonal network decisions.
Where firms have announced resumption dates, several have signalled reduced frequencies at restart, suggesting measured capacity rollouts rather than full-scale returns to pre-disruption schedules.