Which airlines are still suspending flights to the Middle East?
Many international airlines are continuing to suspend or adjust services to the Middle East.
Cathay Pacific: Hong Kong-based carrier Cathay Pacific has cancelled all flights to and from Dubai and Riyadh until at least 31 May. Customers booked to travel up until 31 May may rebook, reroute or refund their tickets as per the airline’s ticket waiver policy.
British Airways: British Airways has cancelled all flights between London Heathrow and Amman, Bahrain, Dubai and Tel Aviv up to and including 31 May. Its Doha route will be reinstated at the end of April. Its daily flight between London and Abu Dhabi has been suspended until later this year.
Lufthansa: German carrier Lufthansa is suspending all flights to Abu Dhabi, Amman, Beirut, Dammam, Riyadh, Erbil, Muscat and Tehran, until Saturday, 24 October. Its Dubai and Tel Aviv routes are on pause until Sunday, 31 May.
KLM: Dutch airline KLM has cancelled all flights to and from Dubai, Riyadh and Dammam up until and including Sunday 17 May.
Air Canada: Air Canada announced it will cease operating flights to Dubai until Tuesday, 30 April and to Tel Aviv until Saturday 2 May.
Singapore Airlines: Singapore Airlines has extended its suspension of flights between Singapore and Dubai until Thursday 30 April.
Is airspace across the Middle East still closed?
As mentioned above, airspace across many parts of the Middle East is still closed or impacted, and as this ceasefire is temporary, that is likely to remain the case. Safe corridors continue to allow flights to operate through UAE and Qatari airspace, while large parts of Saudi Arabian airspace remain open. Airspace in Oman has been largely unaffected by the conflict.
However, airspace in Bahrain and Kuwait remains closed, with both countries currently operating a very limited number of flights from Dammam in Saudi Arabia. Airspace in Iran remains closed.
Have governments updated their travel advisories?
The news of the temporary ceasefire has not caused international governments to alter their travel advice for countries impacted by the conflict, and until a permanent end to the conflict is agreed, they are likely to continue to warn against all but essential travel, as the situation could still change at very short notice.
United Kingdom: As of Wednesday 8 April, the United Kingdom is advising against all but essential travel to Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and the UAE, instructing British nationals in those countries to follow guidance from the local authorities.
United States: The US State Department’s advice for the region, including Bahrain, Kuwait, Israel, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and the United Arab Emirates, remains at level three: reconsider travel. Level four (do not travel countries) are now Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon and Yemen, while those travelling to Egypt should “exercise increased caution”.
Australia: Australia has upgraded its advice for Israel, Iran, Lebanon, Qatar, the UAE and Yemen to “Do Not Travel”. Jordan, Oman and Saudi Arabia are now under “reconsider your need to travel” guidance. Foreign Minister Penny Wong has indicated that consular services may be constrained if the security environment deteriorates further.
