DXB operations hit

Dubai International Airport was still running on a reduced footing on April 15, with British Airways and Lufthansa Group halting Dubai flights while Air India kept only select services running. (timesofindia.indiatimes.com) British Airways said flights to and from Dubai were among Middle East services that had been cancelled or temporarily suspended because of “ongoing uncertainty and airspace restrictions.” Lufthansa Group said its airlines would suspend Dubai flights through July 11, 2026, and offered affected passengers one free rebooking or a refund. (britishairways.com) (irreg.lufthansaexperts.com) Air India and Air India Express said they would continue “select services” to and from West Asia on April 15, subject to regulatory approvals, after earlier operating a mix of scheduled and non-scheduled flights to the United Arab Emirates during the disruption. On April 5, the group said it would run 32 West Asia flights, including 12 non-scheduled flights to and from the United Arab Emirates, with Dubai served only by ad hoc services from Delhi and Mangalore. (timesofindia.indiatimes.com) (airindia.com) The disruption is hitting one of the world’s biggest international hubs. Dubai Airports said Dubai International handled 95.2 million guests in 2025, the busiest year in its history and the highest annual international passenger traffic recorded by any airport. (media.dubaiairports.ae) That scale helps explain why airline cutbacks have rippled across Europe, India and the Gulf. The Times of India and Condé Nast Traveller Middle East both reported that carriers including Air France, KLM, Cathay Pacific and Finnair had also cancelled or reduced Dubai services in recent days. (timesofindia.indiatimes.com) (cntravellerme.com) Dubai-based airlines have not stopped flying altogether. The April 15 update said Emirates, flydubai, Etihad Airways and Air Arabia were still operating reduced schedules and gradually restoring flights, with airlines urging passengers to check status updates before leaving for the airport. (timesofindia.indiatimes.com) For travelers, the practical difference is now clear: some foreign carriers have pulled out of Dubai for weeks or months, while others are flying only when slots, permissions and routing allow. For Dubai International, the airport remains open, but the network around it is still being rebuilt flight by flight. (britishairways.com) (irreg.lufthansaexperts.com) (timesofindia.indiatimes.com)