Millions of people are currently stuck in the Middle East (Image: NurPhoto via Getty Images)
A handful of flights from the Middle East to the UK are set to depart today as the scramble to leave the war-torn region continues.
Today, 1,896 of the 5,456 scheduled flights to Middle Eastern destinations are anticipated to be cancelled, according to aviation analytics company Cirium. Nevertheless, 1,333 of these are bound for Turkey, whilst numerous others will be grounded but have yet to be officially listed as such.
In certain nations, including Israel, Bahrain and the UAE, nearly all flights have been cancelled today. Following the US and Israeli strikes on Iran, 7,766 flights have been cancelled. With substantial numbers of British citizens and other nationals anxious to depart the conflict-affected region, attention is focused on when carriers can resume operations. Here are the most recent updates from the principal airlines serving the area.
Emirates
A small number of Emirates flights have departed from Dubai and are scheduled to arrive at several UK airports today.
However, commercial services remain suspended. « All scheduled Emirates flights to and from Dubai remain suspended until 2359hrs UAE time on 4 March, due to airspace closures across the region, » a spokesperson for the airline said.
« Emirates continues to operate a limited number of passenger repatriation and freighter flights on 3 and 4 March. We are accommodating customers with earlier bookings as a priority on these limited flights. Please do not go to the airport unless you have been notified directly by Emirates or hold a confirmed booking for these flights. »
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Sisters Hema Patel (left), 54, and Minal Patel, 57, with their niece Saraya Vann Patel, 8, arriving at Terminal 4 (Image: PA)
Virgin Atlantic
A spokesperson for Virgin Atlantic stated: « Due to the escalation of conflict in the Middle East, we have rerouted some of our flights and cancelled services between London Heathrow and Dubai on Sunday 1, Monday 2 and Tuesday 3 March, as well as services between London Heathrow and Riyadh on Sunday 1 and Monday 2 March. The safety and security of our customers and people is always our top priority and we apologise for any inconvenience caused. »
We are contacting affected customers regarding their travel arrangements. We’d like to thank them for their patience and understanding and recommend that all customers due to travel to or from Dubai and Riyadh over the next 48 hours check the status of their flight on virginatlantic.com before going to the airport.
« We continue to monitor the situation in the Middle East with ongoing dynamic assessments and active changes to our flight routings based on the latest information and guidance, if required. »
British Airways
« We are closely monitoring the situation and have cancelled a number of our flights to the Middle East. Safety is always our top priority, and we would never operate a flight unless it was safe to do so, » a BA spokesperson said this morning.
« If you are due to fly between London Heathrow and Abu Dhabi, Amman, Bahrain, Doha, Dubai or Tel Aviv up to and including 15 March, you can change your flight date free of charge to travel on or before 29 March. Customers travelling up to and including 8 March may also request a full refund in Manage My Booking. »
If you are travelling between London and Larnaca up to and including 15 March, you can change your flight date free of charge to travel on or before 29 March. Customers booked to travel to these destinations up to and including 15 March can change their booking to a different route and travel until 29 March. There’s no change fee, but a fare difference will apply. »
Flights are mostly grounded at Dubai Airport (Image: @fl360aero/X)
Jet2
Jet2 has confirmed it will maintain its Cyprus services, whilst carriers including Ryanair and easyJet have axed flights today.
« We always follow the travel advice of the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), and their current guidance shows that there are no travel restrictions in place to Cyprus. As such, our flights and holidays are operating as normal, and are subject to the usual terms and conditions. We will of course continue to monitor the situation closely, » a Jet2 spokesperson said.
Etihad
Etihad is running an extremely limited number of services from the Middle East to the UK today, though the overwhelming majority remain grounded until at least Thursday.
« All Etihad Airways’ scheduled commercial flights to and from Abu Dhabi remain suspended until 14:00 UAE time on Thursday 5 March, » a spokesperson for the airline said.
« Some repositioning, cargo and repatriation flights may operate in coordination with UAE authorities and subject to strict operational and safety approvals. »
Guests should not travel to the airport unless they have been contacted directly by Etihad and advised to do so. Access to the airport will be restricted for those without confirmed travel documentation.
TUI
TUI’s chief executive, Sebastian Ebel, has confirmed the holiday firm is collaborating with carriers including Emirates, Qatar Airways and Etihad to repatriate customers, with operations beginning today. »
We currently expect to be able to operate the first flights with these companies and our passengers today, » he told NTV. Nevertheless, there remains no clarity on when regular, commercial services will recommence. »
The safety of our customers is our highest priority, and we are closely monitoring the evolving situation in the Middle East and the latest guidance from the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO). We ask that customers currently in impacted destinations continue to follow the local advice and avoid any non-essential travel, » a TUI spokesperson said.
« Our teams are working with our airline partners to assess the situation and make arrangements to bring customers back to the UK as soon as it is safe to do so. »
EasyJet
Multiple easyJet services to Cyprus have been scrapped today, affecting both Larnaca and Paphos airports.
Due to the events affecting the RAF base in Akrotiri in Cyprus, as a precaution, we will not be operating the four return flights to Cyprus scheduled today, » a spokesperson for the company said.
« We continue to do all we can to minimise the impact for our customers and have notified them directly in advance with their options for rebooking or a refund, and are providing hotel accommodation and meals for those who require them. We advise all customers due to travel to and from Cyprus over the coming days to check our flight tracker for the latest information. »
Wizz Air
« Wizz Air confirms that, following the recent escalation of the security situation in Iran, the airline is suspending all flights to and from Israel, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Amman and Saudi Arabia with immediate effect up until and including 7 March, » a spokesperson for Wizz Air said.
« The airline is closely monitoring developments and remains in ongoing contact with local and international authorities, aviation safety agencies, security authorities, and relevant governmental bodies. Operational decisions will continue to be reviewed, and the flight schedule may be adjusted as the situation evolves.
« The safety and security of our passengers, crew and aircraft remain Wizz Air’s highest priority. We acknowledge the disruption this may cause and appreciate the understanding of our customers. Passengers with affected bookings will be contacted directly with information regarding their options. »
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