Air Canada has extended the suspension of its flights to and from Dubai International Airport and Tel Aviv until mid-January 2027, citing ongoing disruptions caused by the US-Iran war. The airline’s 15-hour nonstop routes remain cancelled as the conflict continues to impact air travel across the Middle East.
International Airlines Maintain Extensive Middle East Flight Suspensions
Other global carriers have also prolonged suspensions of their Middle East routes. KLM has paused flights servicing Dubai, Dammam, and Riyadh through October 24, 2026, avoiding Iranian and Iraqi airspace alongside certain Gulf countries. Singapore Airlines continues to cancel flights SQ494 and SQ495 to Dubai until the same date.
Scoot, Singapore Airlines’
low-cost arm, has suspended Singapore-Jeddah flights until September 12, 2026, offering passengers full refunds or alternative rebooking. Air Astana halted flights from Almaty and Astana to Dubai until August 31, 2026, citing deteriorating conditions near the Strait of Hormuz.
Cathay Pacific expects its Dubai flights to resume on October 25, 2026, and Riyadh flights the following day, while waiving fees for travel changes on affected routes. British Airways has suspended flights to Dubai, Tel Aviv, Bahrain, and Amman until October 25, 2026; its service to Jeddah is permanently cancelled.
The Lufthansa Group, including Lufthansa, SWISS, and Eurowings, has suspended Dubai
flights and flights to several other Middle Eastern cities through October 24, 2026. Philippine Airlines maintains Dubai flight suspensions until October 2, 2026, while Manila-Doha services have resumed.
ITA Airways continues with Riyadh flight suspensions until September 15 and Dubai until October 24, 2026, providing refund and rebooking options. United Airlines reports cancellations affecting Dubai and Tel Aviv flights at least through September 7, 2026, allowing refunds or rebooking depending on ticket terms. American Airlines has updated its Middle East travel alerts to permit one-time changes without fees or refunds subject to conditions.
Suspension Durations and Affected Routes
Air Canada’s flight suspensions to Dubai and
Tel Aviv extend into mid-January 2027. KLM, Lufthansa Group, and Singapore Airlines maintain suspensions through October 24, 2026, covering key Gulf cities including Dubai, Riyadh, Dammam, Abu Dhabi, Amman, Beirut, Muscat, and Tehran.
Scoot’s Singapore-Jeddah flights remain halted until September 12, 2026. Air Astana has suspended routes to Dubai through August 31. British Airways suspends multiple Middle East routes through October 25, with some permanent cancellations such as Jeddah. ITA Airways suspends Riyadh flights until mid-September and Dubai flights to late October.
United Airlines is affected up to early September, while Philippine Airlines suspends Dubai flights until early October but
resumes Manila-Doha connections.
Passenger Options and Airline Policies
Passengers booked on suspended routes have access to various rebooking and refund options depending on the airline. Scoot offers full refunds or alternative flight rebooking for its Singapore-Jeddah service. Cathay Pacific enables travelers on affected Dubai, Riyadh, and Doha routes to change travel dates until March 31, 2027, with waived fees.
ITA Airways and United Airlines provide rebooking or refund options aligned with ticket conditions for canceled flights. American Airlines allows a one-time change without fees or refunds based on fare rules on impacted Middle East routes.
Middle East Conflict and Airspace Restrictions Affect Airline Operations
These widespread flight suspensions are driven by ongoing conflict between
the US and Iran, impacting airspace safety over the Middle East. Airlines are avoiding Iranian and Iraqi airspace along with several Gulf nations amid heightened security concerns.
The deterioration around the Strait of Hormuz is a critical factor in Air Astana’s suspension decisions. British Airways and Lufthansa cite continuing uncertainty and airspace restrictions as reasons for their cancellations and temporary service halts across multiple Middle East destinations.
These developments continue to cause logistical challenges for airlines operating long-haul and regional routes connecting Middle Eastern hubs, with no immediate resolution expected.
