Israel attacks Iran: Air Arabia flights delayed, cancelled or rerouted
Airlines suspend flights as regional instability escalates following Israeli strikes
Dubai/Sharjah: Airlines across the region, including UAE carriers, cancelled and delayed flights on Friday after Israeli airstrikes targeted military and nuclear sites in Iran, triggering widespread airspace closures and regional instability.
Citing escalating tensions and regional airspace closures, Air Arabia on Friday announced the temporary suspension of flights to and from Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Russia, Armenia, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, and Kazakhstan.
The Sharjah-based carrier also warned of potential delays and rerouting on other routes, urging passengers to check their flight status before travelling to the airport.
Wider airspace disruption
Flight tracking data from Flightradar24 showed a mass exodus of commercial aircraft from the airspace over Israel, Iran, and Iraq in the early hours of Friday, following the Israeli operation.
The closures affected multiple airports across the UAE:
Dubai International Airport (DXB) and Dubai World Central (DWC) reported several delays and cancellations. Dubai Airports confirmed coordination is ongoing with airlines and service partners to minimise disruption.
Abu Dhabi’s Zayed International Airport also warned of flight disruptions and advised passengers to reconfirm with their airline.
Impact on UAE Airlines
Emirates Airline suspended all flights to and from Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, and Iran until further notice.
Etihad Airways cancelled two Abu Dhabi–Tel Aviv flights and delayed four others due to “operational disruptions.”
flydubai suspended flights to Amman, Beirut, Damascus, Iran, and Israel, with some aircraft rerouted or forced to return mid-flight for safety reasons.
Authorities and airlines continue to monitor the situation, with further delays and rerouting likely if regional tensions persist. Passengers are strongly advised to check flight status before travelling.
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