UAE travel: British Airways, Lufthansa, Air France revise schedules; when will international airlines return?

International airlines are cautiously revisiting their schedules to the United Arab Emirates following suspensions and restrictions linked to the US-Iran conflict. The return is not uniform, with some airlines aiming to resume services in October, while others are pushing their operations into 2027. British Airways has opened bookings for Dubai from November 4, initially offering one daily flight during the winter season, with plans to increase to two daily services in summer.

The Abu Dhabi service will not return until the winter 2027-28 season. Air France is monitoring the security situation in the Middle East, with its Dubai flights suspended through October 13, 2026. Wizz Air is preparing to return to Dubai and Abu Dhabi from October 25 and 27, respectively, offering 12 routes and 49 weekly flights.

Lufthansa, Eurowings, and SWISS have suspended Dubai services through October 24, with Eurowings planning to restart flights on November 1. Singapore Airlines has cancelled its Dubai flights through October 24, and KLM will not operate flights to Dubai through October 24. Other airlines, such as ITA Airways, AirBaltic, Philippine Airlines, Air Astana, and Turkish Airlines, have also suspended or canceled their UAE operations through October or have extended their suspensions until later in the year.

The uneven recovery of international airlines to the UAE highlights the ongoing impact of security assessments and government travel advisories on the aviation sector. While some airlines have already begun restoring services, several major carriers remain off UAE schedules beyond October, signaling a cautious approach to the gradual reopening of international travel to the region.