Iran–Israel Tensions Trigger Massive Disruptions For Emirates, Etihad, flydubai

Air travel across the Middle East remains heavily disrupted as Etihad Airways has suspended all scheduled commercial flights to and from Abu Dhabi until 6 am UAE time on March 6, following escalating regional tensions and widespread airspace closures.

The airline said only a limited number of repositioning, cargo and repatriation flights are currently operating, subject to strict safety and operational clearances from UAE authorities.

Limited Movement, Strict Access

Etihad has opened a small number of flights for March 5 where approvals have been secured. However, passengers have been clearly instructed not to travel to the airport without a confirmed booking issued within the past 24 hours. Terminal access remains restricted to travellers with valid documentation.

Travellers holding tickets issued on or before February 28 for journeys scheduled up to March 10 are being allowed to rebook free of charge until March 31. Refunds are also available through the airline's website or travel agents. The carrier has urged passengers to check flight status online and ensure their contact details are updated.

March 2 Operations Continued

Despite the large-scale disruption, eight outbound flights departed Abu Dhabi on March 2, according to tracking data from Flightradar24. These flights connected to major global destinations including London, Amsterdam, Paris, Moscow, Karachi, Islamabad, Mumbai and Delhi.

Thousands Of Cancellations Across Region

The broader aviation network has also been severely affected. Data from FlightAware shows that more than 6,000 flights were cancelled globally on Wednesday due to ongoing airspace restrictions.

Among the worst-hit Gulf carriers:

• Emirates - 485 cancellations
• Etihad Airways - 190 cancellations
• flydubai - 181 cancellations
• Qatar Airways - 106 cancellations

The cascading effect has left thousands of passengers stranded across multiple hubs.

Gradual Resumption In Dubai

Operations are slowly resuming at Dubai International Airport and Al Maktoum International Airport, with airlines restarting services in phases. Priority is being given to travellers with earlier confirmed departures.

Authorities have cautioned passengers not to head to airports unless directly notified by their airline.

Wider Impact On Regional Airports

Temporary suspensions have also affected Zayed International Airport and Sharjah International Airport, while international carriers continue rerouting flights to avoid restricted airspace corridors.

With the situation still evolving, airlines are reviewing schedules daily, and further disruptions remain possible as regional tensions continue to impact global aviation networks.