Emirates, Etihad Rule Out Resumption of Scheduled Flights Until Thursday

As the "missile barrage" continues to destabilize the region, Emirates and Etihad Airways have officially ruled out the resumption of scheduled commercial services until at least Thursday, March 5.

While a limited "three-hour window" on Monday allowed for a handful of repatriation missions to depart for destinations like Paris, London, and Mumbai, the airlines have warned passengers to stay away from airports unless contacted directly. This "operational blackout" has turned Dubai International, usually the world's busiest hub for international travel, into a "ghost terminal" filled only with essential staff.

The reputational and financial impact on these carriers is immense, as the conflict strikes at the very heart of their "global hub" business model. Qatar Airways has similarly suspended operations as Qatari airspace remains closed due to the "imminent threat" of aerial combat. To mitigate the chaos, airlines like IndiGo and Air India are attempting to operate special flights from secondary locations like Jeddah, but the closure of most "high-altitude corridors" over the Middle East means that fuel-heavy, long-haul diversions are now the only option for travelers trying to reach Asia or Europe.

For the 2026 business traveler, the "just-in-time" connectivity that defined the modern era has vanished overnight. Airlines are offering full flexibility and waivers for travel through March 7, but available seats on alternate routes through Africa or the Far North are becoming "extremely scarce." Industry analysts at OAG suggest that travelers should expect "sharply increasing fares" as the industry grapples with the sudden loss of capacity and the skyrocketing costs of extended flight times required to bypass the war zone.