Dubai’s flagship carrier, Emirates, has extended flight cancellations to Baghdad, Iraq, and Beirut, Lebanon, until January 31, 2025.
Emirates announced on its website that passengers transiting through Dubai with Baghdad as their final destination will not be allowed to board at their point of origin until further notice.
However, flydubai flights to Baghdad continue to operate. “Customers with confirmed bookings on flydubai (FZ) with final destination Baghdad will be accepted for travel,” the airline said. The airline has also advised passengers to monitor flydubai’s (FZ) flight status regularly.
Meanwhile, Emirates flights to and from Beirut will also remain cancelled until and including January 31, 2025. The airline said passengers transiting through Dubai with a final destination in Beirut will not be accepted for travel at their point of origin.
“Customers impacted by flight cancellations must contact their booking agents for alternative travel options or contact us if booked directly with Emirates,” said the airline.
Emirates suspended flights to Lebanon and Iraq due to escalating security concerns in the region amid the Israel—Gaza war. Several other airlines have also suspended flights to Lebanon and Iraq due to escalating tensions in the Middle East.
Europe’s Lufthansa Group extended its suspension of flights to Beirut until February 28, 2025, and to Tehran until January 31, 2025, affecting airlines under its umbrella, including Lufthansa, SWISS, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, and Eurowings.
Resumption of services
Many regional airlines, however, have begun resuming services to the war-torn countries.
Air Arabia Abu Dhabi is set to resume flights to Beirut on January 9. The airline will operate four direct weekly flights between Zayed International Airport and Rafic Hariri International Airport in Beirut, state news agency WAM reported.
Qatar Airways, who had temporarily halted services to and from Lebanon, Iran, and Iraq, citing regional unrest, resumed services on December 9 with 14 weekly flights to Hamad International Airport in Doha.
ME carriers stay profitable
Regional airlines, particularly in the Gulf, had a strong year of profitability amid continued demand for air travel.
According to the International Air Transport Association’s (Iata) annual report, issued on December 10, 2024, Middle East airlines will end 2024 with an estimated $5.3 billion in net profit, up from a June forecast of $3.8 billion for this year, and an increase from $3.1 billion in net profit in 2023. This signals that despite the escalation of conflict in Gaza, Gulf carriers have remained largely unaffected.
Iata said, “The Middle East was the only region to experience an increase in passenger yields in 2024, supported by a strong premium long-haul business.”
