As the UAE’s aviation sector slowly recovers from airspace restrictions imposed due to the ongoing Middle East conflict, local carriers and airports have begun resuming limited flight operations.

Emirates, Dubai’s flagship airline, announced it would operate a reduced flight schedule this week, with over 100 flights planned for Thursday and Friday. These flights will connect passengers to destinations across Asia, Africa, the Americas, Europe, and the Middle East. An Emirates spokesperson confirmed that the airline had resumed operations following the partial reopening of regional airspace for commercial flights.

"Emirates is running a reduced flight schedule for the time being," the spokesperson stated. "This is in response to the reopening of regional airspace, which allows for safe flight operations." The carrier will operate more than 100 flights departing from Dubai on March 5 and 6, which will transport both passengers and crucial cargo, such as perishables and pharmaceuticals.

Emirates plans to increase its flight operations gradually as airspace availability and operational conditions improve. The airline emphasized its ongoing focus on passenger safety and said it would monitor the situation closely.

Passengers are advised to travel to the airport only if they have a confirmed booking. Those who had tickets for flights between February 28 and March 31 can rebook for travel by April 30.

The closure of the UAE’s airspace, along with that of other Gulf nations, came after the escalation of the regional conflict involving the US, Israel, and Iran on March 3.

Flydubai, Dubai's second-largest carrier, has also resumed operations with a reduced schedule. "As the airspace restrictions are gradually lifted, we are updating our flight schedule," a flydubai spokesperson noted. "We continue to monitor the situation, and passengers should expect longer flight durations due to rerouted flight paths. The safety of passengers and crew remains our top priority."

Flydubai stressed that travelers should not head to the airport unless they have a confirmed booking or rebooking confirmation. Those connecting through Dubai will only be allowed to travel if their onward flight is operational.

Meanwhile, Abu Dhabi's Zayed International Airport (AUH) resumed limited flight operations in cooperation with the Emergencies, Crises, and Disasters Management Centre. However, Etihad Airways announced that all flights to and from Abu Dhabi would remain suspended until 6 am UAE time on March 6.

Air Arabia, based in Sharjah, also confirmed that its flights to and from the UAE would be suspended until 3 pm UAE time on Monday, March 9, 2026.

Source: khaleejtimes

Typhoon Dolphin brought torrential rain to Shanghai on Monday, August 10, 2026, flooding roads and commercial areas and severely disrupting air travel in the city.

The weather system forced Shanghai’s two airports to cancel a combined 943 flights, while their overall passenger capacity was reduced by nearly 40%.

The disruption followed Dolphin’s landfall in Zhejiang province on Sunday evening. The typhoon struck areas south and west of Shanghai with maximum sustained winds of 151 kilometres per hour near its centre.

Dolphin later weakened into a tropical storm, but its remaining rain bands continued to bring heavy precipitation across large parts of eastern China.

Shanghai, the country’s second-most populous city, experienced widespread flooding, including in several major commercial districts.

China Eastern Airlines said it was working to gradually restore flights to Shanghai, Zhejiang and other affected destinations as weather conditions improve.

Source: Asia News Network

Thousands of WestJet cabin crew members began strike action on Aug. 2 after nearly 11 months of contract negotiations failed to result in a new labor agreement, triggering widespread disruptions across the airline's network.

The industrial action involves around 4,400 flight attendants represented by the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 8125. The strike officially started after talks between the union and the airline ended without a new collective agreement.

The labor dispute has already forced WestJet to cancel more than 300 flights, affecting travel plans across its domestic and international routes.

Ahead of the strike, the airline had begun grounding portions of its Boeing 737 fleet as a precautionary measure to minimize operational disruption and reduce the risk of leaving passengers and aircraft stranded during the work stoppage.

Source: Aero Time

Oman Air has warned passengers of potential delays on selected flights following temporary airspace restrictions and exceptional operating conditions that have disrupted aircraft movements across parts of its network.

In a travel advisory issued on Saturday, the national carrier said the operational challenges had affected flight schedules and that its teams were working continuously to minimise disruption, maintain services, and restore normal operations as quickly as possible.

The airline did not identify the routes impacted by the restrictions or provide a timeline for when normal schedules are expected to resume.

Oman Air said passengers affected by schedule changes will be notified directly via WhatsApp, email, or SMS, provided their booking records contain current contact details.

To reduce the impact on travel plans, the airline added that it may rebook eligible passengers on flights operated by other carriers where suitable alternatives are available.

Source: Gulf News

Global commercial aviation reached a new milestone on July 23, with flight-tracking platform Flightradar24 recording 153,359 commercial flights in a single day, the highest daily total in the platform's history.

The record comes despite recent signs of weaker passenger demand, softer ticket sales and disruptions caused by conflict in the Middle East, highlighting the resilience of airline operations during the peak Northern Hemisphere summer travel season.

The milestone reflects a contrast within the aviation industry, where airlines continue to operate extensive summer schedules even as demand has weakened in some major markets.

Industry observers say the record was driven by peak holiday travel, with carriers deploying maximum capacity to meet seasonal demand. Many airlines, including major U.S. operators, have maintained record summer schedules as travellers continue to prioritise leisure travel despite economic uncertainty and higher travel costs.

Earlier this month, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) reported that global passenger demand fell 2.2% year-on-year in May, marking a second consecutive monthly decline. Domestic traffic dropped 3.1%, with demand down 1.9% in the United States and 6.2% in China's domestic market.

IATA also reported weaker forward ticket sales for the second half of 2026, signalling a more cautious outlook for the industry later in the year.

Analysts noted that flight activity and passenger demand do not always move in tandem, as airlines can maintain high flight frequencies through larger schedules and pricing strategies designed to stimulate demand.

According to IATA, the May slowdown was largely driven by the conflict in the Middle East, where traffic among regional airlines declined 28.4%. Excluding the region, global passenger demand increased 0.7% year-on-year, indicating that the weakness was concentrated rather than widespread.

Despite ongoing challenges, including elevated fuel prices and geopolitical uncertainty, the record number of daily flights underscores the continued strength of global airline operations during the summer travel season.

Source: Newsweek