International airlines are steadily reinstating services to destinations across the Middle East after widespread disruptions caused by heightened regional tensions following U.S. and Israeli military strikes on Iran. While several carriers have announced plans to resume operations, others continue to postpone flights to key destinations as security and operational assessments remain ongoing.

Aegean Airlines has extended the suspension of flights to Dubai until August 31, while services to Erbil and Baghdad remain cancelled through September 30.

airBaltic will not operate flights to Dubai until October 24.

Air Canada has prolonged the suspension of flights to Tel Aviv and Dubai through October 24.

Within the Air France-KLM group, Air France has suspended flights to Beirut until August 2. KLM, meanwhile, kept services to Riyadh, Dammam, and Dubai suspended until July 15, according to information published on its website.

Hong Kong-based Cathay Pacific plans to restart flights to Dubai and Riyadh from September 1.

Delta Air Lines has extended the suspension of its Atlanta-Tel Aviv service until December 18. The carrier intends to resume flights between New York JFK and Tel Aviv on September 6, while the planned launch of its Boston-Tel Aviv route has been postponed indefinitely.

Finnair has cancelled flights to Doha until October 2 and continues to avoid the airspace of Iraq, Iran, Syria, and Israel. Seasonal flights to Dubai are expected to resume in October.

At International Airlines Group (IAG), British Airways has delayed the return of flights to Doha until August 1 and to Riyadh until August 8. Services to Dubai, Tel Aviv, Bahrain, and Amman remain suspended for the rest of the summer season, with operations scheduled to restart on October 25. When services resume, the airline plans to operate one daily flight to Dubai, Doha, Riyadh, and Tel Aviv, while removing Jeddah from its network.

Japan Airlines has suspended Tokyo-Doha flights until August 31, with Doha-Tokyo services set to remain paused until September 1.

Poland's LOT plans to resume its winter Dubai route in October and restart flights to Beirut as part of its Summer 2027 schedule.

The Lufthansa Group continues to maintain extensive restrictions across the region. SWISS has postponed the resumption of Tel Aviv flights until August, while Brussels Airlines has suspended services until October 24. Lufthansa and SWISS will keep flights to Dubai suspended until September 13.

Additionally, Lufthansa, SWISS, Austrian Airlines, and Brussels Airlines have extended flight suspensions to Abu Dhabi, Amman, Beirut, Dammam, Riyadh, Erbil, Muscat, and Tehran until October 24. Low-cost subsidiary Eurowings, which has already resumed flights to Erbil, Beirut, and Tel Aviv, expects to restore services to its remaining Middle East destinations during the autumn.

ITA Airways has also extended the suspension of flights to Riyadh until July 31 and to Dubai until October 24, citing operational reasons.

Norwegian Air has indefinitely postponed the launch of planned services to Tel Aviv and Beirut, with no revised start dates announced.

Singapore Airlines has prolonged the suspension of its Singapore-Dubai route until October 24. To accommodate increased passenger demand, the airline is adding capacity on routes linking Singapore with London Gatwick and Melbourne from late March through October 24.

SunExpress, the joint venture between Turkish Airlines and Lufthansa, is scheduled to resume its Antalya-Dubai service later on July 15.

Meanwhile, low-cost carrier Wizz Air continues to suspend flights from mainland Europe to Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Amman until mid-September, reflecting the cautious approach many airlines are still taking as the regional situation evolves.

Source: Reuters News

Dubai Aviation City Corporation (DACC) has awarded a contract to develop an automated people mover (APM) system for the first phase of Al Maktoum International Airport, creating what is expected to be the world’s largest airport transit system of its kind.

The contract was awarded to a consortium comprising Japan’s Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI), its Dubai-based subsidiary MHI Mobility Engineering Services (MHI-MESC), and Indian engineering group Larsen and Toubro (L&T).

The APM network will extend approximately 50 kilometers and connect nine stations, making it significantly larger than existing airport people-mover systems.

MHI and MHI-MESC will oversee the design, procurement and testing of 165 vehicles, as well as signaling technology and overall system integration. L&T will be responsible for designing, procuring, testing and constructing the remaining subsystems on site.

The project is scheduled for completion in December 2031.

The scale of Dubai’s planned system will surpass existing airport transit networks, including the approximately 8-kilometer Skylink at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport and The Plane Train at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.

The APM network will connect Al Maktoum International Airport’s terminals and key facilities, helping improve passenger movement, reduce transfer times and support efficient airport operations.

The project forms part of Dubai’s broader plans to develop Al Maktoum International into one of the world’s largest aviation hubs. The airport is targeted to begin operations in 2032 and is ultimately expected to handle up to 260 million passengers annually.

The planned expansion is designed to accommodate growing regional and international air traffic while strengthening Dubai’s position as a major global aviation hub.

Source: Khaleej Times

Skyway Aviation Handling Company PLC (SAHCO) has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening cooperation with the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) to improve the efficiency, security and smooth operation of airport and cargo activities.

The commitment was made during a SAHCO delegation’s visit to AC Adamu, the newly appointed Commander of the Customs Intelligence Unit (CIU) at Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Ikeja, Lagos.

The visit focused on building on the existing relationship between SAHCO and the NCS through stronger communication, closer coordination and enhanced operational cooperation, particularly in the handling and movement of cargo.

Representing SAHCO Managing Director and CEO Adenike Aboderin, General Manager of Cargo Services Donald Adekunle welcomed the new CIU commander and pledged the company’s continued support for a professional and productive partnership with the Customs Service.

Adekunle said closer cooperation between the two organizations would help strengthen airport operations and improve coordination among key aviation stakeholders and government agencies.

He also emphasized the importance of inter-agency collaboration in facilitating efficient cargo movement, reinforcing security procedures and enhancing service delivery across Nigeria’s airports.

The renewed cooperation comes as aviation and government agencies continue to focus on improving cargo-handling processes and maintaining secure and efficient airport operations.

Source: ZAWYA

SHARJAH, UAE: Sharjah Airport has achieved Level 3 Airport Customer Experience Accreditation from Airports Council International (ACI), marking another milestone in its efforts to strengthen passenger services.

The airport first received Level 1 accreditation in 2022 before advancing to Level 2 in 2023 after establishing and implementing a customer experience strategy across its departments. It renewed its Level 2 status in 2025 and progressed to Level 3 in 2026.

Ali Salim Al Midfa, Chairman of Sharjah Airport Authority, said the latest accreditation reflected the airport’s focus on passenger satisfaction and its broader strategy to provide an integrated travel experience centered on quality and service excellence.

He said the achievement also supports Sharjah’s ambitions as a destination for travel, tourism and business.

According to Al Midfa, reaching Level 3 demonstrates the airport’s ability to collect and analyse passenger feedback and work with airport partners to turn that information into practical service improvements.

The accreditation assessment examined how the airport gathers and applies passenger feedback, coordinates with service providers and maintains a seamless passenger experience from arrival through departure.

As part of its progress toward Level 3, Sharjah Airport strengthened its customer feedback systems to better identify passenger expectations, pinpoint areas requiring improvement and respond more quickly to concerns.

The airport also increased coordination with airlines, ground-handling companies and other stakeholders to promote consistent service standards throughout the passenger journey.

Passenger satisfaction reports are now regularly distributed among airport departments, allowing teams to identify successful practices as well as areas requiring further attention. Employees across the airport community are also involved in improving passenger services, reinforcing shared responsibility for the overall travel experience.

ACI established its Airport Customer Experience Accreditation Programme to help airports assess and enhance passenger experience. The programme provides tools and expertise to help airports manage passenger journeys, develop improvement plans and identify opportunities to raise service quality.

Source: QCAA

DOHA, Qatar: Hamad International Airport (HIA) has reaffirmed its readiness to provide a smooth and comfortable arrival experience as passenger numbers increase in Doha following the summer holiday season.

In a statement issued Tuesday, the airport said it expects higher inbound traffic this August as students and families return ahead of the new academic year.

HIA has issued a series of guidelines designed to make arrival procedures easier and improve passenger convenience. Airport staff will remain available around the clock to assist travelers and their families, it said.

The guidance covers several aspects of the arrival process, including procedures for families traveling with young children and arrangements for meeting arriving passengers.

It also provides information on transportation options from the airport, including ride-hailing services, taxis, buses and the Doha Metro. Guidance on car rentals and baggage collection is also included.

The airport said the measures are intended to help passengers navigate the arrival process efficiently during the expected increase in traffic.

With August marking a key period for post-holiday travel, HIA is emphasizing operational preparedness and passenger support as more travelers return to Doha.

Source: QNA

JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia: King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah handled approximately 28.55 million passengers on 169,900 flights between the beginning of 2026 and the end of July, according to an airport performance report.

The airport also processed 33.6 million bags during the seven-month period, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported.

The performance report was reviewed by Deputy Governor of Makkah Region Prince Saud bin Mishaal bin Abdulaziz during a meeting attended by Jeddah Airports Company CEO Mazen Johar.

The airport recorded its highest daily passenger traffic on January 17, when around 195,300 passengers passed through its facilities.

During the 1447 AH Umrah season, King Abdulaziz International Airport served approximately 6.16 million passengers on 36,400 flights and handled 7.2 million bags. More than 10,000 employees from various agencies were deployed at the airport during the season.

The report also highlighted the airport’s role during the 1447 AH Hajj season. More than 1.67 million pilgrims traveled through the airport during the arrival and departure phases, with more than 9,600 flights operated and approximately 2.76 million bags handled.

Ground transportation also played a significant role in moving pilgrims during Hajj. Buses carried around 821,700 pilgrims across 22,855 trips, while the Haramain High Speed Railway transported approximately 48,200 pilgrims on 207 trips.

The figures underscore the airport’s importance as a major gateway for pilgrims traveling to Saudi Arabia for Umrah and Hajj, as well as its role in handling growing passenger demand throughout the year.

Source: TradeArabia