As regional airspace closures over the Iran-US-Israel war continue to interrupt travel around the world, the UAE’s General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) has activated “emergency air corridors.” Many planned air traffic and commercial services are still on hold, but some domestic and international carriers have begun with special repositioning and repatriation flights to help thousands of stranded travellers.
UAE National Carriers: Restricted Resumption
All four major UAE airlines have said they operate a limited number of flights, although travelers have been urged not to fly to the airport unless they have a confirmed booking, or they have been contacted directly.
- Emirates: Scheduled flights will remain suspended until March 7, at 11:59 PM. However, repatriation and freighter flights are limited to the airline. Passengers with booked flights already are given first priority.
- Etihad Airways: Commercial flights from Abu Dhabi have been suspended until 2:00 PM on March 5. Etihad is currently moving to cargo, repositioning and repatriation flights under tight safety licenses.
- flydubai: Operations have resumed in part from Terminals 2 and 3 at Dubai International DXB. The airline plans to rebook the passengers affected by the initial disruptions.
- Air Arabia: Commercial flights to and from Sharjah are suspended until 3:00 p.m. on Monday, March 9, and only a handful of special emergency services are working alongside local authorities.
International & Indian Airlines: Repatriation initiatives
Due to the high volume of Indian expats in the UAE Indian carrier(s) have been the most active in launching special services especially from non-hub airports.
Essential Travel Advice
The GCAA has also said it has built “safe air corridors” that accommodate roughly 48 flights in one hour, up to 80, as scheduled. But it's still very much a state of fluidity.
- Before You Leave: Don't travel to DXB, AUH or Sharjah airports without a confirmed OK to Travel status from your airline.
- Contact Information: Keep your phone number and email up to date in your booking (PNR) for airlines to reach you for rebooking.
- Waivers & Refunds: Most carriers including Emirates and Etihad are conducting free rebooking of flights that were issued on or before February 28 for travel through mid-March.
