UAE Airports Expand Capacity to Meet Rising Passenger Demand Ahead of the Winter Travel Season.
Travelling from the UAE this winter? Passengers could have more flight options as airports across the country increase capacity ahead of the busy travel season.
Scheduled departing seat capacity grew by 23 per cent between June and October, reaching 7.2 million seats, reflecting an expansion in airline operations.
Dubai is at the forefront of this growth, with Emirates and flydubai increasing their available capacity. Up to 36 weekly flights connecting Dubai with European destinations are also expected to resume by December, providing travellers with additional international connections.
However, flight cancellations and delays remain a concern for passengers travelling through UAE airports.
Etihad Airways has extended the suspension of flights between Abu Dhabi and Saudi Arabia until November 5, while several incoming services at Dubai International Airport have experienced cancellations or delays.
Air Arabia, Emirates and flydubai have also reported cancellations affecting flights to Saudi Arabia and other destinations.
Travellers are therefore encouraged to verify their flight schedules directly with their airlines before heading to the airport, as operational changes may occur with little advance notice.
UAE airports increase capacity ahead of winter travel season
Airports across the UAE are preparing for higher passenger volumes as airlines expand their schedules for the winter months.
According to scheduled capacity figures, the number of departing seats increased from June levels to reach 7.2 million in October, representing growth of 23 per cent.
Dubai accounted for the largest share, with approximately 4.6 million departing seats.
Zayed International Airport in Abu Dhabi followed with 1.7 million seats, while Sharjah recorded around 840,000.
Among UAE airlines, Emirates offered approximately 3.1 million seats during October.
Flydubai registered the strongest capacity growth among the country’s major carriers, increasing its available seats by 27.5 per cent compared with June to reach 1.1 million.
International connectivity is also expected to improve, with as many as 36 weekly flights between Dubai and Europe scheduled to return between late October and December.
The restoration of services to Athens and Manila is expected to provide additional travel choices for passengers planning international journeys.
Regional tensions continue to affect aviation operations
Developments across the Middle East remain an important consideration for airlines and passengers, as regional security concerns continue to influence flight operations.
In Israel, voters are participating in a closely contested election in which Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces a challenge from former military chief Gadi Eisenkot.
National security and questions surrounding accountability for Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attack have emerged as major issues during the election campaign.
Meanwhile, diplomatic efforts to reduce regional tensions are continuing.
Representatives from Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan met Iranian leaders in Tehran on Monday for discussions aimed at easing tensions.
Iranian officials described the meetings as “very good”, with the participating countries agreeing to continue their dialogue.
Elsewhere in the region, Saudi Arabia reported intercepting three ballistic missiles and four drones launched by the Houthis.
Jordan also carried out airstrikes in southern Syria following a deadly church attack. Syrian authorities said the strikes killed eight civilians.
At the same time, reports indicated that US military forces were preparing for possible operations against Iran, while Tehran outlined conditions for restarting negotiations.
These developments underline the continuing uncertainty surrounding regional security and its potential implications for international air travel.
Iran flights: UAE services remain suspended
Flights operated by Iranian airlines between Iran and the UAE continue to be suspended until further notice.
The suspension includes Iran Airtour services operating to and from Dubai.
Passengers holding bookings on affected flights should contact their airline or travel agency to confirm the latest operational status and obtain information about available rebooking or refund arrangements.
As the suspension remains open-ended, travellers should avoid assuming that previously scheduled services will operate without receiving confirmation from their airline.
Tel Aviv flights: Emirates codeshare services remain suspended
Emirates’ codeshare operations with flydubai on routes to and from Tel Aviv remain suspended until further notice.
The disruption follows a security incident on September 30 involving flydubai flight FZ1073, which was diverted to Tabuk in Saudi Arabia.
Passengers planning to travel to Tel Aviv through Emirates or flydubai should check directly with the operating airline for the latest information on service availability, alternative travel arrangements and booking options.
With UAE airports expanding capacity while regional disruptions continue, travellers are advised to monitor airline notifications closely and confirm their flight details before departure.
Passengers affected by flight cancellations or schedule changes are advised to contact Emirates, flydubai or their respective travel agents for updated booking details, rebooking assistance and alternative travel arrangements.
Abu Dhabi Airport: Latest flight delays
Etihad Airways has reported delays affecting certain incoming flights at Zayed International Airport in Abu Dhabi.
The affected services include:
- Thiruvananthapuram – EY265: Originally expected at 6.55am, the flight’s arrival has been rescheduled to 9.20am.
- Tel Aviv – EY610: Initially scheduled to arrive at 11.15am, the service has been delayed until 12.20pm. Associated codeshare flight numbers include MU3620, LY9613 and HM5333.
Passengers travelling on these routes should confirm the latest arrival information directly with Etihad Airways.
Dubai International Airport: Cancellations and delays
Several inbound flights to Dubai International Airport (DXB) have been affected by cancellations and delays, including services originating from Saudi Arabia, Russia, Syria and other international destinations.
Cancelled flights arriving in Dubai
Emirates
- EK8142 arriving from Madrid.
flydubai
- FZ8272 from Jeddah.
- FZ1116 from Damascus.
- FZ976 from Moscow Vnukovo.
- FZ992 from St Petersburg.
flynas
- XY213, XY209, XY203, XY217, XY811 and XY201 from Riyadh.
- XY205 from Gassim.
Other international airlines
- AirSial flight PF784 from Islamabad.
- Ethiopian Airlines flight ET660 from Addis Ababa.
Travellers booked on these services should contact their airlines for information about refunds, revised schedules or alternative connections.
Delayed flights arriving in Dubai
A number of incoming services have also experienced changes to their expected arrival times.
- Air India Express IX335 from Surat: Arrival moved from 8.55am to 9.29am.
- flydubai FZ778 from Dushanbe: Delayed from 8.35am to 9.37am.
- flydubai FZ998 from Yekaterinburg: Revised arrival time of 3.01pm instead of 1.45pm.
- Azimuth Airlines A4 6287 from Mineralnye Vody: Delayed from 9.30am to 12.15pm. This service is listed for Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC).
- flydubai FZ1716 from Minsk: Arrival pushed back from 8.20am to 10.30am.
SpiceJet: Flights affected by cancellations and delays
SpiceJet has also reported disruptions affecting services from several Indian cities.
- Kochi – SG5117: Cancelled.
- Mumbai – SG5060: Delayed from 11.55am to 1.50pm.
- New Delhi – SG5111: Revised from 11.50am to 1.50pm.
- Ahmedabad – SG5116: Delayed from 8.50am to 1.50pm.
Passengers should check directly with SpiceJet for updated flight timings and available booking options.
Etihad Airways extends Saudi Arabia flight cancellations until November 5
Etihad Airways has announced that flights connecting Abu Dhabi with Dammam and Riyadh will remain cancelled through Thursday, November 5, due to ongoing regional disruptions.
The airline has also suspended several services operating between Abu Dhabi and Jeddah during the same period.
The affected flights are:
- EY601: Abu Dhabi to Jeddah.
- EY602: Jeddah to Abu Dhabi.
- EY603: Abu Dhabi to Jeddah.
- EY604: Jeddah to Abu Dhabi.
Etihad has cautioned that the situation remains subject to change, meaning additional adjustments to flight schedules may be necessary.
Passengers with confirmed reservations on affected routes are encouraged to visit Etihad Airways’ official website to review the latest flight status, booking updates and available travel alternatives.
Emirates flight updates: Madrid delay and Saudi route cancellations
Emirates has reported operational changes affecting its Madrid–Dubai service, alongside cancellations on multiple routes connecting Dubai with Saudi Arabian cities.
Madrid to Dubai: Emirates flight delayed
Emirates confirmed that its Madrid–Dubai service experienced a delay due to operational reasons.
The affected flight was rescheduled to operate as EK8144 on October 26.
The airline said passengers impacted by the disruption were being rebooked to their final destinations and would receive revised travel itineraries.
According to an Emirates update issued at 6.28am UAE time on October 27, flight EK8144 was listed as being in the air.
Passengers should consult the airline’s website for their latest booking information and onward travel arrangements.
Emirates cancels Dubai–Dammam services
Emirates has listed the following flights between Dubai and Dammam as cancelled:
Dubai to Dammam
- EK823
- EK827
- EK821
Dammam to Dubai
- EK824
- EK828
- EK822
Emirates cancels Dubai–Jeddah services
The airline has also reported cancellations on the following routes:
Dubai to Jeddah
- EK801
- EK805
- EK803
Jeddah to Dubai
- EK802
- EK806
- EK804
Emirates cancels Dubai–Riyadh services
Several flights connecting Dubai and Riyadh have also been cancelled.
Dubai to Riyadh
- EK815
- EK819
- EK813
- EK817
Riyadh to Dubai
- EK816
- EK820
- EK814
- EK818
Travellers booked on these routes should review their reservations and contact Emirates for further assistance.
Emirates Dubai–Medina flights continue operating
Despite cancellations affecting several Saudi Arabian destinations, Emirates reported that its listed services between Dubai and Medina had arrived.
The flights include:
Dubai to Medina
- EK807
- EK809
Medina to Dubai
- EK808
- EK810
Passengers are reminded that flight operations can change at short notice, particularly during periods of regional disruption.
Before leaving for the airport, travellers should verify their flight status, departure or arrival times and updated itineraries directly through Emirates’ official channels.
flydubai flight updates: Damascus cancellations and Saudi Arabia route status
flydubai has confirmed cancellations affecting its Dubai–Damascus services in both directions on October 27.
The airline’s flight status listings also show varying operational conditions across several Saudi Arabian destinations, with some flights marked as scheduled, others showing estimated timings and several already completed.
However, flight status information was unavailable for a number of additional Saudi routes on the airline’s website.
Dubai–Damascus flights cancelled
The following flydubai services have been listed as cancelled:
- FZ1115: Dubai to Damascus — Cancelled.
- FZ1116: Damascus to Dubai — Cancelled.
Passengers booked on these flights should contact flydubai for updated travel arrangements and available rebooking options.
Saudi Arabia: Latest flydubai flight status by destination
Madinah (MED)
- Dubai to Madinah: FZ8387 and FZ897 were listed with estimated timings, while FZ827 remained scheduled.
- Madinah to Dubai: FZ828 had arrived, FZ8388 was scheduled and FZ898 showed an estimated status.
Gassim (ELQ)
- Dubai to Gassim: FZ871 was scheduled.
- Gassim to Dubai: FZ872 had arrived.
Ha’il (HAS)
- Dubai to Ha’il: FZ925 was scheduled.
- Ha’il to Dubai: FZ926 was also scheduled.
Jeddah (JED)
- Dubai to Jeddah: FZ831 had arrived, FZ909 showed an estimated status and FZ829 remained scheduled.
- Jeddah to Dubai: FZ832 was in flight, while FZ910 and FZ830 were scheduled.
Tabuk (TUU)
- Dubai to Tabuk: FZ881 was scheduled.
- Tabuk to Dubai: FZ882 was scheduled.
Taif (TIF)
- Dubai to Taif: FZ873 was listed with an estimated status.
- Taif to Dubai: FZ874 remained scheduled.
Saudi routes with no flight status information
As of October 27, flydubai’s website did not display flight status details for services connecting Dubai with the following destinations:
- Abha (AHB)
- AlUla (ULH)
- Dammam (DMM)
- Gizan (GIZ)
- Hofuf (HOF)
- Jouf (AJF)
- Nejran (EAM)
- Neom (NUM)
- Qaisumah (AQI)
- Riyadh (RUH)
The absence of flight information should not automatically be interpreted as confirmation of cancellation or suspension.
Passengers should verify their individual bookings directly with flydubai before making travel arrangements.
Important check-in information for flydubai passengers
Flydubai advises that airport check-in counters normally close 60 minutes before the scheduled departure time, unless passengers receive different instructions through an official SMS or email.
Travellers should confirm both their flight status and applicable check-in deadlines before leaving for the airport.
Air Arabia flight updates: Multiple cancellations from Abu Dhabi and Sharjah
Air Arabia has reported numerous flight cancellations affecting services departing from Abu Dhabi and Sharjah on October 27.
The affected destinations span the Middle East, South Asia, Europe and Africa, with several routes showing cancellations in both directions.
Air Arabia Abu Dhabi: Cancelled flights
The following services have been listed as cancelled in both directions:
- Chattogram: 3L061 and 3L062.
- Cairo – Sphinx International Airport: 3L383 and 3L384.
- Sohag: 3L413 and 3L414.
- Amman – Queen Alia International Airport: 3L032 and 3L033.
- Kuwait: 3L020 and 3L021.
- Faisalabad: 3L315 and 3L316.
- Multan: 3L335 and 3L336.
- Colombo: 3L708 and 3L709.
Travellers affected by these cancellations should contact Air Arabia Abu Dhabi to confirm their booking options.
Air Arabia Sharjah: Cancelled flights by region
Air Arabia has also listed several cancellations affecting services operating through Sharjah International Airport.
South Asia
- Chattogram: G9520 and G9521.
- Dhaka: G9514 and G9515.
Egypt
- Cairo: G9583 and G9584.
- Cairo – Sphinx International Airport: G9343 and G9344.
- Sohag: G9617.
Middle East
- Amman – Queen Alia International Airport: G9337 and G9338.
- Kuwait: G9068, G9124, G9069 and G9125.
- Beirut: G9385 and G9386.
- Doha: G9081 and G9082.
- Damascus: G9363 and G9364.
Saudi Arabia
- Abha: G9195 and G9196.
- Dammam: G9160, G9163 and G9167, along with return services G9161, G9164 and G9168.
- Jizan: G9398 and G9399.
- Riyadh: G9151 and G9154, together with return flights G9152 and G9155.
Europe
- Munich: G9240 and G9241.
- Krakow: G9748 and G9749.
- London Gatwick: G9267 and G9268.
Other international destinations
- Malé: G9093 and G9094.
- Moscow – Domodedovo: G9950, G9956 and G9958, along with return services G9957, G9959 and G9951.
- Bangkok: G9845 from Sharjah to Bangkok. No return flight number was provided.
- Entebbe: G9691 and G9692.
Advice for Air Arabia passengers
Passengers travelling from Abu Dhabi or Sharjah should review their reservations and check the latest flight status directly with Air Arabia.
Those affected by cancellations are encouraged to contact the airline for assistance with rebooking, refunds where applicable and alternative travel arrangements.
As operational schedules remain subject to change, travellers should rely on the most recent information provided by the carrier.
Saudi Arabia flight disruptions: Airlines announce suspensions and revised schedules
Several international and regional airlines have suspended, cancelled or adjusted services to Saudi Arabian destinations amid ongoing travel disruptions.
Passengers planning to travel to Riyadh, Dammam, Jeddah, Madinah or other Saudi cities should confirm the latest flight arrangements before departure.
UAE airlines: Saudi Arabia service updates
- Etihad Airways: Flights between Abu Dhabi and Riyadh and Dammam remain cancelled through November 5.
- Emirates: Services connecting Dubai with Riyadh, Dammam and Jeddah have been affected by cancellations. Travellers should confirm their individual flight status.
- flydubai: Flights to Riyadh, Dammam and Abha are suspended until October 29.
- Air Arabia: Several Sharjah services to Riyadh, Abha, Dammam and other Saudi destinations have been cancelled. The airline has not specified a date for resuming the affected flights.
Indian airlines: Saudi Arabia flight suspensions
Air India and Air India Express
Flights serving Riyadh and Dammam are suspended until November 7, while Jeddah services remain suspended until October 31.
Passengers meeting the airlines’ eligibility requirements may be offered rebooking or refund options, subject to applicable conditions.
IndiGo
Services to Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam and Madinah have been cancelled through October 31.
Akasa Air
Jeddah flights are suspended until November 10, while Riyadh services remain suspended until November 30.
Eligible travellers can request refunds or reschedule their bookings without additional charges.
Other international airline updates
- Oman Air: Riyadh services are suspended until October 31.
- SalamAir: Flights to Riyadh and Dammam remain cancelled through October 31.
- Pakistan International Airlines: Riyadh services are suspended, with no confirmed resumption date.
- Philippine Airlines: Riyadh flights PR654 and PR655 remain suspended until November 29.
- Delta Air Lines: The planned Atlanta–Riyadh route launch has been postponed until March 2027.
- Lufthansa Group: Riyadh flights are suspended until November 18, while Dammam services remain suspended through November 30.
- Eurowings: Jeddah flights are scheduled to resume on November 12.
- Scoot: Singapore–Jeddah services remain cancelled until December 2.
- KLM: Cancellations affecting Riyadh and Dammam flights have been extended through October 31.
- British Airways: A limited Riyadh service is scheduled to restart on November 3, with one daily flight.
- Malaysia Airlines: Jeddah and Madinah flights were previously scheduled to resume on October 18. Passengers should verify current operations.
- Air France: The airline’s Riyadh suspension was previously scheduled to continue until October 24. Travellers should check for updated information.
These dates reflect the reported airline schedules and may be revised depending on operational conditions.
Passengers should consult their airlines for the latest confirmed arrangements rather than assuming services will resume automatically on the stated dates.
UAE travel advisory: Essential checks before heading to the airport
With airlines adjusting schedules and some regional routes continuing to face disruption, travellers should take additional precautions before starting their journeys.
- Confirm flight status: Check the operating airline’s official website or application for the latest departure and arrival information.
- Monitor airline notifications: Review emails and SMS messages for updates about cancellations, delays, gate changes and revised itineraries.
- Explore alternative arrangements: Contact the airline or booking agent promptly if a flight is cancelled or significantly delayed.
- Understand ticket conditions: Review applicable refund rules, rebooking policies and baggage allowances before accepting alternative travel arrangements.
- Arrive with sufficient time: Follow the airline’s recommended airport arrival time and check-in deadlines, particularly when schedules have changed.
Winter travel outlook: More capacity, but continued uncertainty
UAE airports are preparing for increased passenger demand as airlines expand capacity and restore international connections ahead of the winter travel season.
However, ongoing cancellations and regional disruptions mean that published schedules may not always reflect actual flight operations.
Travellers should confirm their flight status directly with the operating airline before leaving for the airport, as departure times, cancellations and route availability can change at short notice.
Checking the latest information and understanding available rebooking options can help passengers minimise inconvenience and make more informed travel decisions.
