Travel Updates: Middle East Airspace Closures & Airline Suspensions - 


Update- Updated as of 15 May 2026




Etihad Airways

  • Near-full schedules restored; operating ~80 global destinations.
  • Flexible policy: Free rebooking (until mid-June 2026) + refund options for May Feb-2026 bookings.
  • Some timings/routes may be fully booked; schedules remain subject to regional conditions.

    • Emirates

  • UAE airspace fully reopened; routes and capacity being progressively restored.
  • Waiver policy deadline: 31 May 2026 — unlimited date changes, free rebooking/rerouting, full refunds for eligible tickets.
  • Some flights still limited, rescheduled, or subject to last-minute changes.
  • Expanding services: Adelaide route resumed; premium First Class upgrades planned.

    • AirArabia

  • Limited flights resumed across India, Middle East, Europe, Africa - ~60–70% of pre-disruption capacity
  • Schedules remain dynamic; frequencies reduced on many routes.
  • Passenger options: Rebooking and refunds available for affected flights.

    • Flydubai

  • Operating at ~40–50% of normal capacity; gradual recovery underway.
  • Some routes remain suspended; flight durations may be longer due to rerouting.
  • Flexible policy: Free date changes for Feb–June travel; refunds/rebooking for cancellations. SMS/email alerts active.
  • India route — NEW (from 1 Apr 2026): Non-Indian nationals must complete a mandatory e-Arrival Card 24–72 hours before departure.

    • Qatar Airways

  • Operating 120+ destinations by mid-May 2026; flights via dedicated safe air corridors.
  • Daily flights to Dubai and Sharjah resumed from 23 April 2026; Damascus resumed May 2026.
  • Summer 2026 target: 150+ global destinations from 16 June 2026 with increased frequencies.
  • Flexible policy: Free date changes until 31 October 2026; refunds available.
  • A380 capacity was temporarily reduced — some routes remain recently reinstated and dynamic.

    • Oman Air

  • Most flights operating normally; extra services added on selected routes.
  • Regional routes (Dubai, Bahrain, Khasab) resumed from mid-April 2026; Amman and Dammam reinstated earlier.
  • New route: Muscat–Tashkent launching June 2026.
  • Muscat International Airport remained fully operational throughout — a key transit hub in the region.
  • Passenger options: Full refunds (penalties waived in many cases); free rebooking via official channels.

    • Saudia Airlines

  • Most international/domestic flights operating, but schedules remain partially adjusted.
  • Gulf routes (UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Jordan) partially resumed — not fully stabilised.
  • Hajj 2026 impact: 1M+ seats allocated across 145 destinations (May–July peak). Regular passenger seat availability may be reduced.
  • Passenger options: Rebooking, refunds, and rerouting support available for affected flights.

    • Flynas

  • Domestic Saudi Arabia flights operating normally.
  • Gulf routes still disrupted: UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Iraq, Syria — limited or suspended. Turkey, Egypt, India, Pakistan more stable.
  • Hajj 2026 impact: 147,000+ pilgrims across 18 countries — reduced availability for regular passengers May–July.
  • Passenger options: Free rebooking; credit shells or refunds depending on ticket type.

    • Air India

  • Operations partially reduced — cut nearly 100 daily flights (domestic + international) through May–July 2026.
  • Reasons: Rising jet fuel prices + ongoing airspace restrictions.
  • International routes reduced in frequency; Gulf sectors constrained by demand and operational approvals.
  • Long delays (10+ hours) reported on some flights; real-time tracking strongly recommended.
  • Passenger options: Rebooking and refunds provided; alternative flights offered where possible.
  • Note: Air India is also launching new routes (e.g., Delhi–Hanoi) alongside these cuts.

    • Indigo

  • India's largest carrier — strong domestic connectivity; international schedules dynamic.

  • Doha flights resumed from 1 May 2026 after earlier suspension.

  • New route: Chennai–Réunion Island launched April 2026; expanding toward 50+ international destinations.
  • Fuel surcharge: Introduced March 2026 — impacts ticket pricing and route sustainability industry-wide.


    SpiceJet

  • Operating, but with frequent delays, cancellations, and low on-time performance.
  • Multiple recent cancellations on major routes (Mumbai–Delhi, Bengaluru, Gorakhpur) due to aircraft grounding and crew duty limits.
  • Causes: Maintenance issues, cascading delays, weather disruptions, FDTL crew constraints.
  • Advisory: Do not rely on fixed departure times. Check status multiple times before leaving for the airport. Expect possible aircraft swaps, schedule changes, or cancellations.

    • Singapore Airlines

  • Globally normal operations — Asia, Europe, and Australia stable.
  • Middle East: Key disruption: Singapore–Dubai route cancelled until at least 31 May 2026 (repeatedly extended).
  • Riyadh route: Launch postponed to September 2026 (was June); several Scoot ME routes (e.g., Jeddah) suspended.
  • Travelers may need to reroute via Doha, Istanbul, or European hubs — expect longer journey times.
  • Passenger options: Full refunds or rebooking; efficient refund processing noted. India–Singapore and Asia routes stable.


    • UK ETA — Key Details


  • Who needs it: All visa-free travellers visiting for tourism, business, family, or short study (up to 6 months), including transit.
  • Who is exempt: UK/Irish passport holders; those with UK visa, work permit, or right to remain.
  • Cost & validity: ~£20 | Valid 2 years or until passport expiry | Multiple short visits allowed.
  • How to apply: Online via official UK government app/website. Allow several days — longer during peak periods.
    .

    • EU Entry/Exit System (EES) — Key Details

  • Fully active across all Schengen member countries — the biggest European border change in decades.
  • Replaces passport stamping with biometric checks (fingerprints + facial scans) for non-EU short-stay visitors.
  • Applies under the 90/180-day Schengen rule for tourism and business travel.
  • Expect longer border queues initially; digital tracking of entry/exit history introduced; stricter overstay detection.

    • 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.