Mass flight suspensions in the Middle East extended as Gulf carriers issue new update windows
Airlines across the Gulf continue to suspend or limit operations amid airspace closures in parts of the region. The latest carrier notices indicate disruptions will remain in place through 2–3 March, with operational decisions refreshed on short cycles rather than set as firm restart times.
Qatar Airways, Emirates and Etihad: different timestamps, the same message—“next update”
Qatar Airways says its flight operations remain temporarily suspended due to the closure of Qatari airspace and points to a further update due by 2 March at 09:00 Doha time. The notice does not provide a restart time and links resumption to the aviation authority’s decision to reopen airspace safely.
Emirates, in an update published on 1 March, states it has suspended all operations to and from Dubai until 15:00 UAE time on Tuesday, 3 March, and outlines rebooking options for customers booked in the coming days.
Etihad’s flight status page says all flights to and from Abu Dhabi are suspended until 14:00 UAE time on Monday, 2 March.
Beyond the “big three”: more carriers, plus knock-on cancellations into Gulf hubs
The disruption is not limited to the largest airlines. UAE media have been tracking cancellations and suspensions affecting carriers including flydubai and Air Arabia alongside updates from Emirates and Etihad.
Outside the region, cancellations into key Gulf hubs are spreading. British Airways confirms it has cancelled a number of flights to the Middle East and directs customers to live operational updates.
Airport signals: Dammam and Muscat
In Dammam, King Fahd International Airport is publishing an alert advising passengers to check flight status with their airlines before heading to the terminal; the alert itself does not state the airport is closed.
Muscat International Airport maintains passenger information channels and a announcements/news section. Oman Air’s schedule tool notes that published times are for reference and the ticket remains the definitive source for timings.
What this means for managed travel
For corporate travel teams, the immediate challenge is the ripple effect: broken feeder flights, limited rerouting capacity via Gulf hubs, and a higher risk of travellers being stranded mid-journey. Operationally, this pushes daily (or more frequent) briefings via TMC channels, tighter controls on self-service changes, and rapid switching to routings that avoid restricted airspace—where carriers can operate them at all.
Polish MFA advisories and hotline for stranded travellers
Poland’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MSZ) pages for travellers show an update dated 28 February 2026 and “do not travel” language for countries including Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Jordan and the United Arab Emirates.
MSZ is also launching a dedicated hotline for Poles stranded in the Middle East: +48 22 523 88 80 (from 1 March, 17:00).
