Etihad continues Kuwait flight cancellations as some UAE services face delays.
Dubai: Travellers flying from the UAE on Thursday should expect some disruptions as airlines continue adjusting their operations amid rising Gulf tensions.
While UAE airports remain open and most flights are operating as scheduled, some services to Bahrain and Kuwait have been cancelled, with several other departures and arrivals experiencing delays.
Etihad Airways has extended the suspension of selected Kuwait flights until July 26 and cancelled Bahrain services until July 25. At Dubai International Airport, a limited number of Emirates, flydubai, and other international flights have been delayed, while Sharjah Airport has reported only minor delays with no major cancellations.
The latest adjustments come after Kuwait said its air defence systems intercepted hostile drones following what it described as an Iranian attack, increasing security concerns across the region.
Latest updates
Etihad extends Kuwait flight cancellations
Etihad Airways has extended the cancellation of flights EY653 and EY654 between Abu Dhabi’s Zayed International Airport and Kuwait International Airport until July 26 due to operational reasons.
The airline has also cancelled flights between Abu Dhabi and Bahrain from July 23 to July 25, citing operational reasons.
Etihad said: “We apologise for this inconvenience. Our teams are doing their best to assist with your travel arrangements.”
Passengers booked on affected flights are advised to ensure their contact details are updated so they can receive the latest travel alerts and flight notifications via SMS or email.
Dubai airport: Which flights are affected?
Dubai International Airport remained largely operational on Thursday, although some flights experienced delays.
Dubai International Airport: Flight disruptions
Arrivals
Emirates
- New York — Delayed
- Jeddah — Delayed
- London Heathrow — Delayed
- Manchester — Delayed
flydubai
- Almaty — Delayed
- Lucknow — Delayed
- Dhaka — Delayed
Other disruptions
- flyadeal from Riyadh — Cancelled
Departures
- flydubai to Bahrain — Delayed
- flydubai to Damascus — Cancelled
- flydubai to Jeddah — Delayed
- flydubai to Erbil — Cancelled
- flyadeal to Riyadh — Cancelled
- SpiceJet to Pune — Delayed
- SpiceJet to Kozhikode — Delayed
- SpiceJet to New Delhi — Delayed
Sharjah Airport
Operations at Sharjah Airport remained largely normal, with only a small number of delays reported and no major cancellations.
Kuwait reports interception of hostile drones
Kuwait’s military said on Thursday that its air defence systems intercepted hostile drones following what it described as an Iranian attack.
In a statement, the General Staff of the Kuwaiti Army said air defence units were “confronting attacks by hostile drones” and that explosions heard by residents were caused by interception operations.
Authorities urged residents to remain calm and follow official safety and security instructions.The announcement comes as tensions continue to escalate across the Gulf. Kuwaiti authorities did not immediately provide details on the number of drones intercepted, whether any damage was reported, or if there were casualties. Iran has not yet commented on the allegation.
US issues worldwide travel caution
The US State Department has issued a worldwide caution for American citizens, warning that security conditions in the Middle East could change rapidly and without notice.
The advisory urged travellers to be prepared for potential:
- Flight cancellations
- Airspace closures
- Travel disruptions
It also noted that some airlines have delayed the resumption of services or cancelled routes entirely, advising travellers to check directly with their airlines before flying.
Airline updates
| Airline | Latest update |
|---|---|
| Aegean Airlines | Dubai flights cancelled until August 31. |
| Air Astana | Dubai flights from Almaty and Astana suspended until August 31. Refunds and rebooking options available. |
| Air Canada | Toronto-Dubai flights suspended until October 24. |
| Air France | Dubai flights expected to resume on July 27; Riyadh suspended until July 24; Beirut until August 2. |
| airBaltic | Riga-Dubai services suspended. |
| British Airways | Dubai, Bahrain, Amman and Tel Aviv services suspended until October 31. Doha and Riyadh schedules reduced. Jeddah route permanently withdrawn. |
| Cathay Pacific | Dubai flights suspended until October 24; Riyadh until October 25. |
| Finnair | Dubai flights suspended until October 24. Doha winter services also suspended. |
| ITA Airways | Dubai flights suspended until October 24. |
| KLM | Dubai, Riyadh and Dammam services suspended until August 23. |
| Lufthansa Group | Lufthansa and Swiss Dubai flights suspended until September 13. Several Middle East routes suspended until October 24. |
| Philippine Airlines | Manila-Doha services resumed; Dubai flights remain suspended until October 2. |
| Scoot | Singapore-Jeddah services suspended until August 8. |
| Singapore Airlines | Dubai flights suspended until October 24. Riyadh launch delayed until December 1. |
| Turkish Airlines | Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Damascus, Beirut and Amman flights resumed. Iran services remain suspended. |
| Wizz Air | Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Amman services suspended, with flights expected to resume during September. |
Passengers with bookings on affected airlines are advised to contact carriers directly for information on refunds, rebooking options, or travel waivers.
Why flights are being delayed or cancelled
Airspace restrictions and heightened security concerns in parts of the region have forced some international flights to take longer routes or temporarily suspend services.
Travellers may experience:
- Longer flight times: Some routes may take an additional one to three hours due to detours and adjusted flight paths.
- Flight cancellations: Airlines may revise schedules based on ongoing safety assessments and operational requirements.
- Longer connection times: Increased passenger traffic at alternative airports could affect layover durations.
- Possible baggage delays: Changes to routes and connections may impact baggage handling and transfers.
Advice for passengers
Travellers flying from the UAE are advised to:
- Check their flight status before leaving for the airport.
- Monitor airline websites, mobile apps, and airport departure boards for the latest updates.
- Contact their airline directly if their flight is cancelled to discuss rebooking, rerouting, or refund options.
