Etihad Airways restarted a limited set of flights on Monday, the Abu Dhabi-based carrier said, as airlines across the Middle East adapted to airspace shutdowns after the escalation of conflict between Iran and opposing forces over the weekend. The carrier emphasized that scheduled commercial services to and from Abu Dhabi remain cancelled.
Authorities in multiple Middle Eastern countries closed airspace following Israeli and U.S. strikes on Iran and Tehran's military response, forcing key hubs in the region to suspend operations. In the UAE, that led to closures affecting major airports.
In a statement, Etihad noted that certain repositioning, cargo and repatriation flights could be operated in coordination with UAE authorities and only with strict operational and safety approvals. The airline did not identify which of its services would be dedicated to repatriation of passengers affected by the disruption.
Information published on the carrier's website showed several departures from Abu Dhabi's Zayed International Airport on Monday to destinations including London, Paris, Moscow and Amsterdam. The schedule also listed additional flights planned for Jeddah and Kochi. Despite these movements, the airline reiterated that its full schedule remained suspended.
Earlier on its travel information page, Etihad had stated that all flights to and from Abu Dhabi were suspended until 10:00 GMT on Tuesday. The carrier's note left open the possibility of limited operations subject to approvals and safety checks by UAE authorities.
Summary
Etihad has begun a constrained restart of select services from Abu Dhabi amid regional airspace closures caused by recent military exchanges involving Iran. While some repositioning, cargo and repatriation flights may operate with regulatory clearance, all scheduled commercial services remain cancelled until at least the stated suspension end time.
Key points
- Etihad resumed a limited number of flights from Abu Dhabi while maintaining a suspension of scheduled commercial services.
- Regional airspace closures followed Israeli and U.S. strikes on Iran and Iran's subsequent military response, impacting major airports in the Middle East.
- Planned departures from Abu Dhabi included routes to London, Paris, Moscow and Amsterdam, with additional flights listed to Jeddah and Kochi.
Risks and uncertainties
- Ongoing airspace restrictions could further disrupt passenger travel and cargo logistics - affecting aviation, travel and freight sectors.
- It is unclear which specific flights will be used for repatriation, creating uncertainty for stranded passengers and governments coordinating returns - affecting travel services and consular operations.
- Operations remain contingent on strict approvals and safety checks by UAE authorities, so planned movements may be delayed or cancelled at short notice - impacting airline scheduling and logistics planning.