Several flights originating from the Middle East and heading to the UK are scheduled to take off today amid the ongoing rush to evacuate individuals from the conflict-affected area.
A limited number of flights are designated to repatriate British citizens stranded in the Middle East back to the UK on Tuesday, although most flights departing from the region are still being canceled.
In the aftermath of recent US and Israeli military actions against Iran, followed by retaliatory strikes from Iran, a significant portion of airspace in the region has been shut down. According to aviation analytics company Cirium, out of 5,340 flights that were supposed to land in the Middle East yesterday, 1,775 were canceled, with a notable portion of operational flights heading to Turkey.
Oman is emerging as a preferred departure point for those seeking to exit the region, with 76% of scheduled flights operating smoothly yesterday. EnterJet, a private jet company, has seen a 40% increase in bookings since Saturday, attributing Muscat in Oman as the most viable option. One private jet service charged £20,000 per seat for a flight departing Oman for Milan on Monday, as reported by the FT.
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Emirates is planning to conduct two flights from Dubai International Airport to Heathrow, and one each to Gatwick and Manchester today. Some of these flights will utilize the airline’s A380 jets, which can accommodate up to 615 passengers based on their configuration. FlightRadar data indicates that the Gatwick flight took off shortly before 8am GMT.
Emirates typically operates 146 weekly flights to the UK, averaging around 21 flights per day. The airline had temporarily halted all operations to and from Dubai until 3pm UAE time on Tuesday, March 3. However, it announced at 2pm GMT on Monday that it would commence a limited number of flights starting from the evening of March 2.
Images captured at Heathrow Airport depict travelers embracing loved ones after arriving on an Etihad Airways plane around 7pm on Monday.
Etihad Airways has scheduled a flight to the UK on Tuesday from Abu Dhabi to Heathrow, operated by a Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner with a capacity of 336 passenger seats. The airline stated that while all commercial flights to and from Abu Dhabi are suspended until 2pm UAE time on Thursday, March 5, some special flights for repositioning, cargo, and repatriation purposes may be executed in coordination with UAE authorities and subject to stringent operational and safety checks.
Passengers are advised by the airline not to proceed to the airport unless they have received direct communication from Etihad instructing them to do so, as access to the airport will be restricted without confirmed travel documentation.
Qatar Airways, known for its services to Heathrow and Gatwick from Qatar, announced on Tuesday morning that its flights remain grounded due to the closure of Qatari airspace. FlightRadar data shows that the majority of flights scheduled to arrive or depart from Dubai have been canceled today.
British Airways has canceled its scheduled flights to Heathrow from Abu Dhabi, Amman, Bahrain, Doha, and Dubai on Tuesday. The airline informed passengers that safety is a top priority and flights will only operate when conditions are deemed safe.
Wizz Air is increasing its capacity from key European bases to Sharm El Sheikh starting March 6. Flights to and from Israel, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Amman, and Saudi Arabia will remain suspended until March 7, with additional flight options available from London Luton, Rome Fiumicino, Budapest, Milan Malpensa, and Sofia to accommodate affected passengers.
Passengers holding bookings on select routes up to March 15 are allowed to reschedule their flights for departure on or before March 29.
Virgin Atlantic has scrapped a flight from Dubai to Heathrow.
The ongoing tensions between Iran, the US, and their allies have resulted in widespread airspace closures in the Middle East, causing significant disruptions to air travel. Dubai, Doha, and Abu Dhabi airports collectively serve around half a million passengers daily and act as crucial travel hubs in the region.
Authorities are reportedly formulating plans to potentially evacuate over 100,000 British nationals from the Middle East. Foreign Secretary
