All flights operated by Etihad to and from Zayed International Airport have been halted until 2pm on Tuesday, March 3, as confirmed by Etihad Airways. The airline announced that all services flying to and from its main hub in Abu Dhabi will remain suspended until the following afternoon, extending the previous suspension.
This disruption is due to ongoing airspace closures affecting Gulf carriers. Etihad, along with Emirates and Qatar Airways, which primarily cater to long-haul travelers, have been impacted, leading to travel disruptions for many passengers, as reported by The Express.
Passengers are urged to verify the status of their flights before heading to the airport and ensure their contact information is updated in their bookings. Etihad has stated that customers with flights canceled up to March 3 are entitled to a full refund. Travelers who made bookings through agents are advised to contact their agents directly.
Furthermore, Etihad has confirmed that passengers holding tickets issued on or before February 28, 2026, with original travel dates up to March 7, 2026, can reschedule onto Etihad-operated flights free of charge until March 18, 2026.
Following recent events in Cyprus, easyJet has announced the suspension of flights to the popular British tourist destination. In response to events affecting the RAF base in Akrotiri, easyJet is not operating three return flights between Paphos and Larnaca and the UK today as a precaution. Flights from March 3 are currently proceeding as scheduled, but travelers to and from Cyprus in the upcoming days are advised to check the flight tracker for updates.
EasyJet is working to minimize disruptions for customers by offering rebooking options on other airlines or refunds, along with providing hotel accommodations and meals for those in need. Ensuring customer and crew safety remains the top priority, with close monitoring of the security situation in the region.
Flight analytics firm Cirium forecasts 539 UK-Middle East flights to be grounded from March 1 to 7, affecting 180,008 seats, with over 70 UK flights per day expected to be canceled until Saturday. As of today, 49 UK flights to the Middle East have already been canceled.
FlightAware data shows that on Saturday, almost 2,800 flights were canceled, and on Sunday, 3,156 flights were canceled. Airspace over Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Israel, Bahrain, the UAE, and Qatar remained mostly empty on Monday, according to Flightradar24.
