Dubai return remains conditional
The extension applies to flights in both directions between Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport and Dubai International Airport. November 8 is the earliest possible restart, not a confirmed departure date; continuing security risks or operational constraints could lead to another delay.
Air France initially halted Dubai and Riyadh flights on February 28, 2026, after military developments involving Iran triggered regional airspace restrictions and security concerns. According to Time Out Dubai, the carrier briefly restored the Dubai route in August after a six-month suspension, then stopped flying it again on September 3. The outlet said Air France had updated its advisory almost weekly over the past six months, repeatedly moving its return date.
The airline's Riyadh suspension now extends through December 12, 2026, subject to further updates. Beirut flights, however, have resumed after temporary interruptions. Air France is assessing destinations individually rather than imposing the same restriction across its Middle East network.
Rebooking, vouchers and refunds
Air France's October 29 advisory offers options for passengers booked to travel to or from Dubai or Riyadh before December 31, 2026. They can move their trip to a date through February 28, 2027, inclusive, free of charge in the same travel class.
Passengers may instead cancel for a voucher usable on Air France, KLM or Delta Air Lines. It is valid for one year and can also be used to change destinations. The airline says passengers who decide not to travel can obtain a refund when their flight is canceled or delayed by more than five hours. Customers should check the conditions for their reservation, including whether any fare difference applies.
Separate protections generally apply under EU Regulation 261/2004 to covered passengers whose flights the airline cancels. These include a choice of reimbursement or rerouting, with meals and accommodation potentially available while passengers await alternative transport. Serious security threats or airspace restrictions may qualify as extraordinary circumstances, removing the obligation to pay additional fixed compensation.
Other carriers plan longer interruptions
KLM has removed Amsterdam-Dubai flights from its entire 2026-2027 winter season, with the suspension lasting through March 27, 2027. Its Riyadh and Dammam services are also canceled through November 27, 2026.
For Lufthansa, SWISS and Eurowings, the planned Dubai restart has moved to November 25, 2026. Lufthansa and SWISS had been aiming for October 25, while Eurowings had intended to return November 1.
Several other reported changes still require confirmation from the airlines concerned: Cathay Pacific's Hong Kong-Dubai cancellations reportedly extend through January 31, 2027; Finnair reportedly canceled its seasonal Helsinki-Dubai service for winter 2026-2027; and Wizz Air's return has reportedly moved to March 2027. United Airlines and Air Canada are reported to have deferred their North America-Dubai services until spring 2027. Announced and reported restart dates remain planning positions rather than guarantees.
These differing schedules come amid an active European Union Aviation Safety Agency conflict-zone bulletin for the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman. It covers affected airspace associated with the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and Oman. Revised September 30, 2026, the bulletin is valid until November 16 unless reviewed sooner.
EASA flags military activity, missiles, drones, air-defense operations and abrupt changes to airspace restrictions. Its recommendations distinguish higher-risk maritime airspace from operations needed to reach or depart airports in the affected flight information regions. Airlines are advised to keep risk assessments and contingency plans current and monitor developments continuously. Their decisions also depend on available routes, aircraft deployment and applicable regulatory requirements.
Dubai airport remains open as capacity rebuilds
The airline suspensions do not amount to a blanket closure of Dubai International Airport. Emirates and flydubai continue serving Dubai, while Etihad Airways provides connections through Abu Dhabi and Qatar Airways through Doha. Alternatives may differ in cost, travel time, connections and availability, and passengers should verify their itinerary with the airline operating it.
The disruption has nevertheless reduced traffic. Time Out Dubai reported that Dubai International handled more than 30% less traffic in the first half of 2026 than in the same period a year earlier. At the end of that half-year, nearly 50 international airlines still linked the airport with 217 destinations in 99 countries.
More recent capacity figures show an increase across the UAE. Gulf News reported in late October that airports had 7.2 million scheduled departing seats for October, 23% above June's level. Dubai International accounted for 4.6 million, Abu Dhabi's Zayed International Airport for 1.7 million and Sharjah for 840,000.
Emirates offered 3.1 million seats in October. Flydubai's capacity reached 1.1 million seats, a 27.5% increase since June. Gulf News also reported that up to 36 weekly flights between Dubai and Europe were expected to return between late October and December.
In a September 14 statement, Emirates said it was operating at about 93% of its pre-disruption capacity and had carried more than 8.6 million passengers during July and August 2026. The airline described winter bookings across key markets as positive, although customers were booking closer to departure.
Restrictions persist on some regional services. As of late October, Emirates' codeshare operations with flydubai to and from Tel Aviv remained suspended until further notice, Gulf News reported. The suspension followed a September 30 security incident in which flydubai flight FZ1073 diverted to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
Tourism losses and disrupted itineraries
The World Travel & Tourism Council estimated in March 2026 that the Middle East conflict was costing the travel and tourism sector about $600 million a day in international visitor spending, according to PAX News. That was a March estimate, rather than a new assessment of the October flight suspensions.
WTTC said the region accounts for roughly 5% of global international arrivals and about 14% of international transit traffic worldwide. Major hubs including Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha and Bahrain normally handle about 526,000 passengers daily.
For travel agencies and corporate booking teams, the immediate task is to check flight status, compare alternative carriers and connecting airports, and review ticket conditions before requesting refunds or accepting replacement flights. Hotel bookings, transfers and onward transportation may also need changes. Separately booked connections deserve particular attention because a change to one flight can disrupt the rest of the journey.
