British Airways has suspended all flights to and from Abu Dhabi for the remainder of 2026, as escalating conflict in the Middle East continues to wreak havoc on international aviation.
The UK flag carrier confirmed the suspension in a statement, citing continuing uncertainty over the Middle East situation and airspace instability as the key drivers behind the decision. Flights to Amman, Bahrain, Doha, Dubai, and Tel Aviv have also been cancelled, though those suspensions are in place only through March 28, making Abu Dhabi’s extended grounding the most severe among the airline’s regional cutbacks.
The move comes as the region continues to grapple with conflict involving Israel, the United States, and Iran, which has disrupted airspace and forced closures across several major hubs. Flight tracking maps showed largely empty skies over Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Israel, and Bahrain as airlines halted services or rerouted aircraft.
British Airways said it is keeping a close eye on developments. The airline stated it is “keeping the situation under constant review” and is in contact with affected customers to offer them a range of options.
British Airways has also made provisions for travellers seeking to return to the UK, operating limited repatriation flights from Muscat. Those still stranded in the UAE have been encouraged to contact the airline for further guidance.
The Abu Dhabi suspension is far from an isolated move. Emirates, Qatar Airways, and Etihad Airways have all been forced to scale back their schedules significantly amid the ongoing regional tensions.
Turkish Airlines cancelled flights to and from Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Syria, and the UAE, while Air France extended suspensions on flights to Dubai and Riyadh.
Abu Dhabi’s Zayed International Airport has also advised passengers not to travel to the airport unless they hold a confirmed ticket and have been explicitly told by their airline to do so.
British Airways said passenger and crew safety remains paramount, and the Abu Dhabi route will stay grounded until regional airspace conditions are deemed safe for commercial operations.