The UAE Guides

Singapore Airlines and Air France Extend UAE Flight Suspensions to October

· 2 min read News
Dubai airport terminal

Contents

  1. Which airlines are still flying
  2. Arrivals already in the UAE
  3. What to expect

Several of the world’s largest airlines have pushed their UAE restart dates further into the autumn, leaving travellers with significantly fewer direct flight options into Dubai and Abu Dhabi through the peak of summer.

Singapore Airlines, which had previously targeted 2 August for a return to UAE services, has now moved its restart to 24 October 2026. Air France has made a similar extension, as has British Airways, which moved its Dubai restart to 25 October. Air Canada has set the same October 24 target.

The announcements come as at least 14 international carriers have now suspended UAE services, and a recent operational period across Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah recorded 701 delays and 21 cancellations — conditions that make airline scheduling impossible.

Which airlines are still flying

A number of carriers have continued UAE operations throughout the disruption period, including Emirates, flydubai, Etihad, Air Arabia, and several Gulf and Asian airlines. If you hold a booking with a suspended airline, contact them directly — most are offering free rebooking and full refunds under the circumstances.

If you need to get to Dubai or Abu Dhabi urgently, connecting via non-Gulf hubs such as Doha (Qatar Airways) or Istanbul (Turkish Airlines) may offer more operational stability than western European departure points.

Arrivals already in the UAE

For travellers currently in the UAE, the situation at airports remains manageable but volatile. Allow extra time when travelling to and from the airport, and use our Dubai airport transfer guide to understand your ground-transport options if flight times shift.

Monitor airline apps directly rather than third-party trackers — carriers are issuing schedule changes with minimal advance notice.

What to expect

Airlines are citing ongoing airspace restrictions as the reason for extensions through October, with no clear signal yet that the situation will resolve before then. Travellers planning UAE visits through late summer and autumn should:

  • Book only refundable or flexible fares until the situation stabilises
  • Check airline-specific travel alerts before making hotel or tour reservations
  • Consider travel insurance that specifically covers airspace closure events — standard disruption cover may not apply

We will update this page as restart dates are confirmed or revised.