Travel Updates: Middle East Airspace Closures & Airline Suspensions 



Updated: 10 April 2026 at 15:00 hours (GMT +4)


Due to the rapidly evolving security situation across the Gulf and wider Middle East, multiple airspace closures and airline suspensions are currently in effect. The situation remains dynamic and operational conditions may change at short notice.

Please find the consolidated status updates (as of 15:00 hours on Friday, 10th April 2026) below.
Airports in the Gulf are gradually reopening with restricted corridors & partial operations. Airlines continue to update flight routes & schedules across the region due to security concerns and airspace limitations.

The aviation disruption is entering its sixth week, with carriers extending suspensions to many Middle Eastern destinations through April.


Airspace Status as of 10 April 2026

  • U.A.E.: Partially operational (restricted schedules)
  • Airports including Dubai (DXB), Al Maktoum (DWC), Fujairah (FJR), Sharjah (SHJ) and Ras Al Khaimah (RKT) have resumed limited flights, with airlines gradually reinstating select routes and special flights. Travellers are advised to verify schedules before heading to the airport.

  • Qatar: Airspace partially reopened with repatriation and limited flights only. Regular commercial schedules remain largely suspended or heavily reduced.

  • Saudi Arabia (KSA): Operational but heavily disrupted
  • Major hubs (Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam) remain open but with significant cancellations and rerouted flights due to regional airspace risks and airline suspensions.

  • Oman: Operational with restrictions
  • Muscat International Airport is open, but non-scheduled private jet traffic has been restricted to manage congestion and prioritize commercial and government flights.

  • Bahrain: Airspace was previously closed; gradual reopening is underway. Flights are resuming in a limited, phased manner only.

  • Kuwait: Airspace remains closed to most civilian traffic. Workarounds (e.g. bussing passengers to nearby international airports) are being used.
  • Jordan: Restricted operations with airspace technically open but experiencing intermittent closures and reduced schedules. There's a limited resumption of flights - passengers are advised to check their flight status before departing for the airport.
  • Lebanon:Open but severely disrupted. Beirut airport is operational, ery limited traffic, high number of airline suspensions, and airspace considered volatile

  • Syria:Airspace remains largely closed or non-functional for civilian aviation. Only minimal or irregular operations (if any).

  • Israel:Commercial flights suspended
  • Israeli airspace remains largely closed to civilian traffic, with passenger operations at Ben Gurion Airport halted and only exceptional movements possible.

  • Iran: Operational only for military, government, humanitarian, or emergency flights
  • Not operating normal commercial international aviation. Passenger travel is effectively suspended until further notice. Some domestic or special flights may operate intermittently, but schedules are not stable.

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    Flight Updates

    AIRLINE UPDATES (10th April 2026)

     

    AIRLINE STATUS AFFECTED FLIGHTS IMPORTANT LINKS
    Air India (AI) & Air India Express (IX)Air India and Air India Express will together operate a total of 30 scheduled and non-scheduled flights to and from the West Asia region on April 2026.

    This includes 10 non-scheduled flights to and from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), subject to availability of slots and other prevailing conditions at the departure stations at the time. These flights are being operated with the requisite permissions from the relevant Indian and local regulatory authorities in the UAE.

    AIR INDIA

    Dubai > Delhi
    Jeddah > Delhi, Mumbai
    Riyadh > Delhi
    AIR INDIA EXPRESS
    Dubai > Mangalore
    Abu Dhabi > Delhi
    Sharjah > Amritsar, Kannur
    Muscat > Delhi, Kannur, Mumbai, Thiruvananthapuram
    Jeddah > Bengaluru, Kozhikode, Mangalore
    Check your Flight Status
    Air Arabia (G9 / 3L) Air Arabia has started operating a limited number of flights to and from the UAE, subject to operational and regulatory approvals.

    Passengers wishing to travel may book available flights. Passengers whose flights were previously cancelled may also rebook if they have not yet used their modification or refund option.

    Limited Flights Operating Between Sharjah,  Abu Dhabi, Ras Al Khaimah & the Below Destinations (until 15 April 2026)
    Learn more
    Emirates Airlines (EK)Currently operating a reduced number of flights until further notice. Please view the latest flight schedules and follow this information for arrivals and departures, even if the schedules are not reflected elsewhere online.  Flight Schedule
    Etihad Airways (EY)Etihad Airways is operating a limited commercial flight schedule until 30 April 2026, operating between Abu Dhabi and around 80 destinations across the Middle East, Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe and North America. This is a phased resumption, and the schedule is being expanded carefully and responsibly as conditions allow. We are monitoring the situation continuously and will update our schedule as the position develops.

    A number of routes are currently operating on a limited basis. The most up-to-date information on which routes are operating, and any adjusted timings, is always available at etihad.com. Customers with existing bookings on affected routes will be contacted directly if their flight is impacted.
    Check Your Flight Status
     Qatar Airways (QR)Qatar Airways Further Rebuilds Flight Schedules

    Qatar Airways has published its latest revised schedule, reflecting the gradual increase in flights to and from Doha reaching more than 120 destinations by mid-May 2026 across Qatar Airways’ global network.

    All flights to and from Doha continue to operate through dedicated flight corridors established in close coordination with the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority. 

    Please note: Flight schedules are subject to change or cancellation due to operational, regulatory, safety, or other circumstances beyond our control.  Please be sure to check the Qatar Airways website or app and ensure your contact details are correct and updated.
    Book your flight 
    IndiGo (6E)

    On 6th April 2026, IndiGo will operate select flights to/from the Middle East. Schedules are being assessed regularly in coordination with the relevant authorities.

    Customers are advised to keep the following in mind:
    - Verify your flight status before heading to the airport.
    - Notifications regarding any changes will be sent to your registered contact details.
    - For support, our contact centre remains available to assist with queries.

    Check Flight Status
    flydubai (FZ)flydubai is gradually resuming its operations with a reduced schedule.
    Customers booked to travel with FZ today are advised not to travel to the airport until they have received confirmation that their flight will operate.  
     Check Flight Status
    British Airways (BA)Due to ongoing uncertainty and airspace restrictions, some BA flights in the region have been cancelled or temporarily suspended, including services to and from Abu Dhabi, Amman, Bahrain, Doha, Dubai, Tel Aviv, and Riyadh.

    To give customers greater peace of mind, we’re extending the flexibility available to those with bookings to these destinations. 

    Your refund options
    If you’re booked to travel to or from any of the destinations listed above up to and including 31 October 2026, you can now request a refund, even if your flight is still scheduled to operate.

    This applies to tickets:
    - Issued by 1 April 2026
    - For travel between 28 February and 31 October 2026

    For travel from 2 June, if you’d prefer to travel at a later date, you can also choose to change your booking without a change fee. You can:
    - Move your journey to a later date on the same route, or
    - Rebook onto a different British Airways route
    - Any fare difference may apply.

    These options are available for customers originally due to travel up to and including 31 October 2026, to or from Abu Dhabi, Amman, Bahrain, Doha, Dubai, Tel Aviv, Jeddah and Riyadh.
    Additional flight capacity
    - London Heathrow to Male: 3 April, 5, 6, 8, 10 and 12 April
    - Male to London Heathrow: 4 April, 6, 7, 9, 11 and 13 April 
    flynas (F3)flynas has extended the suspension of flights to and from the following destinations:
    Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Doha, Bahrain, Kuwait, Iraq, and Syria.

    The suspension will remain in effect until 21:00 UTC (23:59 Saudi Arabia time) on 15 April 2026.
    Saudi Airlines (SV) Saudia will partially resume operations to and from Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Amman starting Saturday, 11 Apr 2026, operating the following daily exceptional flights.

    Guests are advised to check the status of their flights before heading to the airport.
    SV588 Jeddah > Dubai
    SV631 Jeddah > Amman
    SV570 Jeddah > Abu Dhabi
    SV589 Dubai > Jeddah
    SV632 Amman > Jeddah
    SV571 Abu Dhabi > Jeddah
    Check Flight Status
    Salam Air (OV)Due to airspace closures in certain destinations as a result of ongoing regional developments, some scheduled SalamAir flights may be subject to changes.
    - Flights to and from Iran are suspended until 31st August 2026.
    - Flights to and from Iraq, Lebanon, Kuwait, Qatar & Sharjah are suspended until 30th May 2026.
    Cebu Pacific (5J)To ensure the safety and well-being of passengers and crew, CEB has cancelled flights to and from Dubai until April 30, 2026. Learn More
     Akasa Air (QP)Following our ongoing safety assessment and a review of the prevailing situation in the Middle East we continue to operate flights to/from Jeddah and Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Mumbai, Kochi and Kozhikode.

    Flights to/from Doha, Riyadh and Kuwait are suspended until April 5, 2026.
    Check Flight Status
    Korean Air (KE) Flight delays and possible cancellations are expected until May 31, 2026. Passengers flying from/to/through the affected airport are advised to check flight status in advance.Seoul - Dubai - Seoul Check Your Flight Status
    Lufthansa (LH) Group
     
     
     
     
    Flights to/from Riyadh & Dammam have been cancelled until Sunday, 5th April 2026

    Musafir Monitoring & Support
    Our crisis operations team is actively monitoring:


  • Our crisis operations team is actively monitoring:
  • Regional aviation authorities
  • Airline operational bulletins
  • Embassy advisories
  • Airspace management updates:

    For urgent rebooking, rerouting, or traveler risk assessment support, please contact our 24/7 support desk immediately.