*Status as of 14:30 UTC, March 2, 2026; situation remains fluid.
Etihad Airways is operating limited repatriation flights while Emirates, and Qatar Airways issue updates on when operations may resume amid continued Gulf airspace restrictions.
Abu Dhabi Permits Limited Repatriation Operations
Limited flight operations have resumed from Zayed International Airport under a temporary government-approved arrangement.
Authorities confirmed that only pre-agreed repatriation services coordinated with the Abu Dhabi government are permitted. For today, the temporary opening allows 15 passenger flights and two cargo flights, with cargo restricted to medical supplies.
The controlled reopening follows widespread Gulf airspace closures after regional military escalation. Commercial schedules remain largely suspended, and operations are being handled under strict coordination with aviation and security authorities.
Etihad Begins Repatriation Flights
Etihad Airways has suspended all flights to and from Abu Dhabi until 14:00 UAE time on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, due to continued regional airspace disruption.
However, some reparations flights resumed from 14:00 local time today under the limited operating window. The following flights departed the Gulf Airport this afternoon:
- 14:39 – London Heathrow (EY067)
- 14:50 – Amsterdam (EY041)
- 15:02 – Paris (EY033)
- 15:12 – Moscow Sheremetyevo (EY843)
- 15:24 – Karachi (EY294)
- 15:35 – Mumbai (EY204)
- 15:45 – Islamabad (EY300)
- 15:55 – Delhi (EY216)
- 16:10 – Riyadh (EY555)
- 16:16 – Jeddah (EY611)
- 16:30 – Dammam (EY571)
- 16:55 – Cairo (EY713)
- 17:05 – Bengaluru (EY238)
- 17:15 – Kochi (EY334)
- 17:35 – Muscat (EY694)
These departures mark the first passenger movements from Abu Dhabi since the suspension took effect.
Before passenger services resumed, a technical transfer flight operated by Lufthansa departed Abu Dhabi. Flight LH9851, operated by an Airbus A380 (D-AIMK), flew to Munich with only two pilots onboard following completed maintenance work.
According to Lufthansa, passenger operations were not possible due to the absence of required cabin crew and uncertainties around airport accessibility and ground handling under current restrictions.
Emirates Plans Limited Evening Resumption
Emirates announced it will begin operating a limited number of flights starting the evening of March 2.
The airline confirmed that only customers who have been directly contacted and rebooked will be accommodated on these initial services. Passengers have been instructed not to proceed to the airport unless notified.
All other Emirates flights remain suspended until further notice. The carrier said it continues to monitor developments and will adjust schedules accordingly, publishing updates via official channels.
Dubai operations remain constrained following earlier airport disruption and UAE airspace restrictions.
flydubai resumes limited flights from March 2
flydubai said it will operate a limited number of flights on the evening of March 2, 2026, as part of a gradual and carefully managed return to operations.
The departing flights from Dubai International Airport include FZ8489, FZ8205, FZ8263 and FZ8081, all bound for Russia.
Arrivals to Dubai include flight FZ662A from Somalia, FZ307A and FZ376A from Pakistan, FZ326A from Uzbekistan and FZ316A from Sudan.
Qatar Airways Awaiting Airspace Reopening
Qatar Airways confirmed that flight operations remain temporarily suspended due to the closure of Qatari airspace.
The airline stated it will resume operations once the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority confirms that the airspace has reopened safely. A further operational update is expected by March 3 at 09:00 Doha time (06:00 UTC).
Passengers have been advised to monitor flight status via official digital channels. No limited reopening window has yet been announced for Doha.
Other Gulf Carriers Under Review
Airlines across the Gulf continue to assess operational timelines:
- Kuwait Airways has yet to announce a full resumption timeline following the disruption to Kuwait airspace.
- Gulf Air continues to monitor Bahrain’s airspace status.
- Air Arabia and flydubai remain affected by UAE restrictions, with limited or suspended operations pending clearance.
Regional airspace closures continue to impact aircraft positioning, crew scheduling, and transit connectivity.
While Abu Dhabi’s limited reopening provides an initial pathway for repatriation and essential travel, full commercial restoration across Gulf hubs remains dependent on coordinated airspace clearance decisions in the coming days.
