Quick summary
Emirates and Etihad resumed limited flights from Dubai and Abu Dhabi on March 6, 2026, serving 82 and 25 destinations respectively, but Dubai International Airport operates at just 25% capacity and a French government charter turned back Thursday due to missile fire. Over 25,000 flights have been canceled across the Middle East since February 28, stranding more than 100,000 Australians and forcing travelers to pay up to £20,000 for alternative routes via Oman.
Etihad’s limited schedule runs only through March 19, and Qatar Airways’ Doha hub remains completely shut. Passengers with connections via Dubai, Abu Dhabi, or Doha to Asia-Pacific destinations face immediate rebooking needs — Emirates is rejecting transit passengers unless their connecting flight is confirmed operating.
Gulf carriers began trickling flights back into service Friday morning, but the resumption is fragile and incomplete. A government-chartered Air France flight attempting to evacuate French nationals from the UAE turned back Thursday after encountering missile fire, French Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot confirmed.
Dubai International Airport — normally the world’s busiest — saw traffic double from Wednesday to Thursday but remains at roughly 25% of normal levels, according to Flightradar24. Emirates is operating to 82 destinations including London, Sydney, Singapore, and New York, but only until further notice. Etihad’s schedule covers 25 cities through March 19, including London, Paris, Frankfurt, Delhi, New York, and Toronto, subject to regulatory approvals that could change hourly.
The limited operations hit hardest on Europe–Asia-Pacific routes. Emirates, Qatar Airways, and Etihad normally carry one-third of all Europe–Asia passengers and more than half of Europe–Australia traffic, according to Cirium data. With Qatar’s Doha hub still closed and Dubai operating at a quarter capacity, travelers face a bottleneck with no clear end date.
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What the partial resumption actually means for bookings
Emirates is accepting transit passengers only if their connecting flight is confirmed operating — a moving target when schedules change every few hours. Etihad’s March 19 cutoff means passengers booked beyond that date have no confirmed service and should rebook now, not wait for an extension announcement that may not come.
Singapore Airlines suspended all Dubai flights through March 7, rerouting Europe long-haul via alternative corridors that add 90–120 minutes to flight times. Scoot canceled Jeddah service through the same date. Saudi budget carrier flynas began limited Dubai flights Friday, but capacity remains a fraction of pre-conflict levels.
From February 28 through March 5, more than 25,000 flights were canceled out of 44,000 scheduled across the Middle East, Cirium data shows. The conflict has sent Singapore jet fuel to $195 per barrel — nearly double last week’s price — after hitting a record $225 earlier this week. That spike will filter into fares within days as airlines adjust fuel surcharges.
Passengers who managed to escape Dubai via Oman reported paying £1,500 for a single leg to Muscat, on top of £20,000 already spent on canceled Emirates bookings. “Absolute chaos” was the phrase used by multiple travelers arriving at London Heathrow on Thursday. Logistics firm Expeditors confirmed that most carriers remain suspended through at least March 8, with no firm resumption dates.
Why Gulf hubs dominate Asia-Pacific routes
Emirates, Etihad, and Qatar built their networks on geographic advantage: the Gulf sits roughly equidistant between Europe and Southeast Asia, Australia, and New Zealand. A London–Sydney flight via Dubai covers 10,500 miles in two legs; the direct route is 10,560 miles but requires an aircraft capable of 17+ hours nonstop, which only Qantas operates. For travelers from secondary European cities — Manchester, Lyon, Munich — Gulf hubs offer the only one-stop option to most Asia-Pacific destinations, which is why European travelers to Asia rely so heavily on these three carriers.
How the airspace closure reshapes Asia routing
The Middle East airspace shutdown compounds the Russia airspace closures that have rerouted Europe–Asia flights since 2022. European carriers now face a pincer: they cannot overfly Russia, and they cannot use Gulf hubs for connections. The result is longer flights over Central Asia or India, higher fuel burn, and reduced frequency.
Qantas and Singapore Airlines shares fell 3% and 1% respectively on Friday. Air New Zealand dropped nearly 7%. Chinese carriers — Air China, China Eastern, China Southern — lost 2–4% as investors priced in prolonged disruption to connecting traffic through their hubs.
Qatar Airways’ Doha hub remains completely shut, though the airline is operating limited relief flights from Oman and Saudi Arabia. An update on Doha resumption was expected at 9 AM Doha time on March 6, but as of publication, no announcement had been made. The airline’s website lists only the relief flights, with no timeline for normal operations.
| Hub | Status | Capacity vs. normal |
|---|---|---|
| Dubai (DXB) | Limited operations | ~25% |
| Abu Dhabi (AUH) | Limited through March 19 | Unknown, likely <30% |
| Doha (DOH) | Closed | 0% |
What to do if you have a Gulf connection booked
Check your flight status now. Emirates and Etihad apps update hourly. If your connecting flight is not listed as operating, you will be denied boarding at your origin airport — do not travel to Dubai or Abu Dhabi hoping for a same-day rebook.
Rebook via alternate hubs immediately. Singapore Airlines, Qantas, and Cathay Pacific are absorbing overflow traffic on Europe–Asia routes. United, Delta, and American have issued Middle East waivers through March 6, allowing free rebooking. Call airline hotlines directly — automated systems are overwhelmed and showing inaccurate availability.
Consider Oman or Saudi Arabia as interim stops. Qatar Airways is running relief flights from Muscat and Riyadh. If you’re stranded in Dubai, a positioning flight to Oman may unlock onward options faster than waiting for Dubai capacity to increase. Australians should contact Smart Traveller for information on government-arranged charters.
Document all expenses. If you’re forced to buy new tickets at inflated prices, keep receipts. Airlines are required to rebook you on their next available flight at no charge, but “next available” may be weeks out. Travel insurance with conflict exclusions may not cover this — check your policy’s force majeure language.
Watch: Etihad’s March 19 cutoff is the next critical date. If the airline does not extend operations beyond that point by March 12, assume no service and finalize alternate routing. Qatar’s promised Doha update — if it comes — will signal whether the largest Gulf hub can reopen before April.
Questions? Answers.
Can I transit through Dubai if my connecting flight is listed as operating?
Yes, but only if Emirates explicitly confirms your connecting flight is operating at the time you check in at your origin airport. The airline is rejecting transit passengers whose connections are canceled, even if the outbound leg operates. Verify both flights within 6 hours of departure.
What happens to my booking if Etihad cancels service after March 19?
Etihad must rebook you on the next available flight at no charge, or offer a full refund if you choose not to travel. “Next available” could be weeks or months out depending on demand. If you need to travel sooner, you can request a refund and book another carrier, but you will pay current market rates, which are significantly higher than pre-conflict fares.
Are there alternative one-stop routes from Europe to Australia that avoid the Gulf?
Singapore Airlines operates Europe–Australia via Singapore, adding roughly 90 minutes compared to Gulf routing. Qantas flies nonstop London–Perth (17 hours) and has announced it will add capacity on that route in response to Gulf disruptions. Cathay Pacific offers Hong Kong connections, though this adds 2–4 hours depending on your European origin city. All three carriers are seeing heavy demand and limited award seat availability.
Will airlines waive change fees for bookings made before the conflict started?
Most carriers have issued waivers for travel to, from, or via the Middle East through at least March 6–8. United, Delta, and American confirmed waivers through March 6. Emirates and Etihad are offering rebooking without fees, but only to destinations they are currently serving. If your destination is not on the limited schedule, you may need to accept a refund and rebook elsewhere at current prices.
