British Airways Halts Dubai Flights Until Summer Amid Escalating UAE Conflict

British Airways Cancels Flights to Dubai and Other Middle Eastern Destinations

British Airways has made the decision to cancel all flights into Dubai until the summer, citing ongoing uncertainty and airspace instability. This move also includes suspending travel to Amman, Bahrain, and Tel Aviv until May 31. Additionally, trips to Doha in Qatar are on hold until the end of April, while flights to Abu Dhabi have been canceled for the remainder of the year.

This cancellation marks the longest period of major airline disruptions during the ongoing US-Israel war on Iran, which has now entered its third week. The decision came just hours after an Iranian drone attack targeted a fuel tank near Dubai Airport, causing a massive fire. The incident led to flight diversions and road closures around the airport, with thick black smoke visible from several miles away.

Emirates, another major airline, was forced to divert flights mid-air, including services from Heathrow, Edinburgh, Manchester, and Dublin, which were redirected back to their original departure points. Since the attack, no major airline has resumed regular flights to Dubai.

British Airways announced that it has extended its flight cancellations, which were initially scheduled to end later this month, due to the continued uncertainty in the Middle East and airspace instability, according to reports from the Financial Times. The airline will continue to operate flights to Riyadh and Jeddah in Saudi Arabia, which have been less affected by recent airspace closures.

Following the fire on Monday, authorities quickly took to social media to reassure the public that the attack caused “minimal damage” and no injuries were reported. They referred to the incident as a “drone-related incident.” This is the first time the Dubai government has officially acknowledged that a drone caused damage, rather than debris from an interception.

Iranian drone attacks have become less frequent in recent days, but strategic targets such as airports, buildings, and ports in Dubai’s financial center have still been struck. Over 63,000 Britons have returned home from the United Arab Emirates since the conflict began, according to government figures.

In the past few weeks, Dubai has faced multiple attacks, including strikes on its airports and the city’s financial center. Videos have shown large plumes of smoke rising into the sky. Tens of thousands of passengers have been stranded in Dubai since the outbreak of war, though airlines in the city have been increasing their capacity to help return them home.

Data from Flightrader24 showed that Emirates reached its highest number of flights on Sunday since the conflict began, with 369 flights—around 70% of its pre-conflict levels.

Qatar Airways has announced plans to increase its number of flights starting Wednesday. A spokesman said, “The number of flights that can operate each day is extremely limited under the current operational conditions. Each flight requires careful planning and remains subject to regulatory approvals and airspace conditions.”

Yesterday, Donald Trump provided another update on the timeline of the US-Iran war, as oil tanker traffic in the Strait of Hormuz came to a standstill. Speaking to PBS News on Monday, the President described the inflated gas prices as “a very small price to pay” and insisted that “oil prices will drop like a rock as soon as it’s over.”

“I don’t believe it will be long,” he said when asked about how much longer the war would last. However, three sources familiar with the matter told Axios that the Middle East conflict could extend into September, a much longer timeline than Mr. Trump has previously discussed publicly.

Mr. Trump initially told the Daily Mail in a phone interview that the war could last up to four weeks. Later, he suggested it could last up to five. Since then, the President has remained vague about the exact timing of the conflict, avoiding giving specific details to the media ahead of any potential actions regarding Iran.

He has also stated that the war will last as long as “necessary,” without providing further explanation.