flydubai cancels, diverts services to Iran amid rising tensions

Dubai: Flights to and from Iran were disrupted on Wednesday after a temporary closure of Iranian airspace in the early hours of January 15, prompting cancellations, diversions, and rerouting by several airlines, including flydubai.

In a statement, a flydubai spokesperson said, “Due to the temporary closure of the Iranian airspace in the early hours of 15 January, some flydubai flights have been cancelled, diverted or rerouted. The airspace has reopened, and we are adjusting our flight schedule accordingly.”

“The safety of our passengers and crew remains our top priority. We are in direct contact with passengers whose travel plans have been affected.”

Passengers have been advised to update their contact details by visiting Manage your booking and to check the status of their flights on flydubai.com for the latest information.

Iran has seen renewed protests and security tensions in recent weeks, driven by economic pressures and political grievances.

Demonstrations in several cities have led authorities to impose restrictions, with periodic transport and airspace disruptions.

While the situation varies by location, the uncertainty has prompted airlines and governments to review travel and operational safety. Following the airspace disruption and ongoing security assessments, several airlines, including Turkish Airlines, Lufthansa, and many more, have cancelled, suspended or reduced services to Iran in recent days or weeks.

The brief airspace closure on January 15 is part of these broader security measures. Flights have since resumed, but schedules remain fluid.

Several governments have updated or reiterated travel advisories for Iran, urging caution or advising against non-essential travel. These include:

United States

United Kingdom

Canada

Australia

India

Pakistan and Kuwait

Travel advisories are updated regularly. Travellers are encouraged to check their government’s official foreign travel website before booking or travelling.