By dubailife 
**UAE Airlines Reroute Flights Amid Middle East Airspace Closures**
Amid escalating tensions in the Middle East, UAE-based airlines have been forced to cancel and reroute multiple flights due to airspace shutdowns in several regions. On Tuesday, nearly 80 flights operated by major airlines such as Emirates, British Airways, Lufthansa, and Qatar Airways were diverted from hubs like Dubai, Doha, and Abu Dhabi to alternative locations such as Cairo and European cities, according to FlightRadar24.
**Emirates Cancels Flights Due to Regional Instability**
Dubai’s leading airline, Emirates, canceled all its flights to Iraq (Basra and Baghdad), Iran (Tehran), and Jordan (Amman) on October 2 and 3. In a statement to *Khaleej Times*, Emirates assured customers that it is closely monitoring the situation to minimize disruptions and assist affected passengers.
As of now, passengers transiting through Dubai with final destinations in Iraq, Iran, and Jordan are not being accepted for travel until further notice. The following Emirates flights were canceled on October 2:
– **EK 837/838:** Dubai–Bahrain–Dubai
– **EK 855/856:** Dubai–Kuwait–Dubai
– **EK 31/32:** Dubai–London Heathrow–Dubai
– **EK 866/867:** Dubai–Muscat–Dubai
**Flydubai and Etihad Airways Also Impacted**
Flydubai, another prominent Dubai-based airline, canceled flights scheduled for October 2-3 to Iran, Iraq, Israel, and Jordan. The airline advised passengers with connections to these destinations to check their flight status. A Flydubai spokesperson noted, *“This is a developing situation, and we are constantly monitoring and adjusting flight schedules as needed.”*
Abu Dhabi’s Etihad Airways also confirmed the rerouting of several flights on October 1 and 2 due to regional airspace restrictions. The airline canceled flights to Tel Aviv and issued a warning about possible delays due to the closures of airspace in Israel, Jordan, Iraq, and Lebanon following missile strikes. Affected flights include:
– **EY 593:** Abu Dhabi to Tel Aviv
– **EY 594:** Tel Aviv to Abu Dhabi
Etihad emphasized that all flights only operate through approved airspace and that safety remains the highest priority.
**Travel Disruptions Continue as Conflict Escalates**
With tensions escalating due to Iranian missile attacks in retaliation for Israel’s operations in Lebanon, flight paths across the region have been severely disrupted. Eurocontrol, a pan-European air traffic control agency, warned pilots of the conflict, announcing airspace closures in Jordan, Iraq, and key crossing points into Cypriot-controlled airspace.
FlightRadar24 indicated that flights diverted wherever possible, with many rerouted to Cairo, Istanbul, and Antalya in southern Turkey. However, congestion in these cities forced further diversions southward.
While Jordan and Iraq have since reopened their airspaces, disruptions to the aviation sector continue as the region grapples with the Israel-Hamas conflict. Passengers flying to or from Dubai, Abu Dhabi, or other major UAE hubs are urged to check the status of their flights regularly, as the situation remains fluid.
These challenges compound ongoing struggles faced by the aviation industry due to conflicts in Ukraine and now in the Middle East, with many airlines facing further operational difficulties.
Source : Khaleejtimes