Flights Between UAE, Qatar and Iran Resume After Two-Day Suspension
Emirates, flydubai and Etihad restore services as airlines warn of ongoing risks amid Iran unrest
Airlines operating from the UAE and Qatar resumed flights to Iran on Sunday after suspending services for two days due to widespread social unrest across the country.
In the UAE, Emirates and flydubai flights to Tehran and other Iranian cities operated as scheduled, according to data published by Dubai Airports. Several flydubai services, including routes to Tehran, Shiraz and Mashhad, departed on time throughout the morning.
Airport data showed that the 7.33am and 10.55am flydubai flights to Tehran departed on schedule, as did the 11am service to Shiraz. The 12.10pm flight to Tehran and the 12.55pm service to Mashhad were also on time.
Flights operated by Iranian carriers Iran Air, Mahan Air and Qeshm Air continued to operate normally to and from Dubai.
From Abu Dhabi, Etihad Airways’ early-morning flights to Tehran also departed on schedule, according to Abu Dhabi Airport data.
In Qatar, however, some disruptions remained. Qatar Airways cancelled its early flights to Mashhad and Shiraz, according to Hamad International Airport’s website, while the airline’s morning service to Tehran departed as planned.
The resumption of flights comes amid ongoing protests in Iran over worsening economic conditions, including the plummeting value of the rial and the rising cost of living. The unrest has been compounded by what has been described as a “digital blackout,” with authorities restricting mobile internet access.
Saj Ahmad, chief analyst at StrategicAero Research, said airlines were likely taking a cautious approach to flight operations.
“Airlines will almost certainly be rerouting flights out of an abundance of caution, so passengers do not need to worry about booking flights, especially if they are flying from the UAE to Europe, for example, as most flights are often flown through the safer Iraqi airspace corridor,” he told The National.
However, Mr Ahmad warned travellers against non-essential trips to Iran.
“The bigger caution is booking flights to Iran. While flights are operating, passengers need to be acutely aware that flights could suddenly be cancelled and passengers might not be able to find a way out easily, especially if the current Iranian government collapses because there will end up being a vacuum.”