Emirates, flydubai and Etihad Airways resumed a limited number of flights yesterday, mainly to help repatriate stranded passengers, as global carriers grapple with disruptions from the escalating Iranian conflict.
Israeli and US attacks on Iran and Tehran’s response forced the closure of airspace across parts of the Middle East, including the UAE, and shut key airports such as Dubai and Doha.
The UAE civil aviation authority will begin operating “special flights” across the country’s airports, state news agency WAM reported, to help some of the tens of thousands of passengers stranded in the region leave.
Dubai Airports said a limited resumption began later yesterday, with a small number of flights permitted from Dubai International (DXB) and Al Maktoum International (DWC).
DXB, which handled nearly 100 million passengers last year, sustained minor damage on Sunday after it was hit along with other hubs by Iranian retaliatory attacks that have extended beyond US bases and interests.
Emirates and flydubai said they resumed a small number of flights yesterday evening. flydubai said four flights to Russian destinations including Kazan departed from DXB, while services from three Pakistani airports and from Hargeisa in Somaliland were scheduled to return to Dubai.
“Some repositioning, cargo and repatriation flights may operate in co-ordination with UAE authorities and subject to strict operational and safety approvals,” Abu Dhabi-based Etihad said in a statement to Reuters, adding that all scheduled commercial services to and from Abu Dhabi remained cancelled.
The airline’s website showed several flights had departed from Abu Dhabi’s Zayed International Airport yesterday for destinations including London and Paris, with more scheduled.
Etihad did not specify which flights were being used for repatriations. Earlier, the airline said all flights to and from Abu Dhabi will remain suspended until 1000 GMT today.
A Lufthansa A380 departed Abu Dhabi earlier yesterday with only two pilots on board. The company said it was transferring the plane to Munich and passenger transport was not possible.
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