A number of global airlines have announced significant alterations to their eastern-focused long haul schedules due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
British Airways has announced it will not fly from London to Abu Dhabi until sometime “later this year”, while flights to Dubai have been stopped until later this month. BA said: “Due to the continuing uncertainty of the situation in the Middle East and airspace instability, we’ve had to temporarily reduce our flying schedule in the region. We’ve cancelled all flights to and from Amman, Bahrain, Doha, Dubai and Tel Aviv until later this month and to and from Abu Dhabi until later this year. We’re keeping the situation under constant review and are in touch with our customers to offer them a range of options.”
Due to the rise in demand for long-haul flights at short notice, the airlines of the Lufthansa Group will be offering numerous extra flights, particularly to Asia and Africa.
Lufthansa Airlines plans to add several extra flights at short notice in the coming weeks. Four extra flights from Munich to Singapore and back, as well as two special flights from Frankfurt to Cape Town and back, are already available for booking. In addition, two extra flights from Frankfurt to Riyadh are planned.
Austrian Airlines has already set up 10 special flights from Vienna to Bangkok and back. The flights that have already been published can be booked through all sales channels. The Lufthansa Group is constantly monitoring current market developments.
Due to ongoing unrest in the Middle East, KLM has decided to cancel all flights to Dubai up to and including March 28, although repatriation flights for Dutch nationals will continue. The airline said: “The safety of our passengers and crew is always our top priority. We understand that this decision has a significant impact on our travellers and are doing everything possible to keep them well informed.”
Air France is continuing its self-imposed suspension of flights from Paris to Tel Aviv, Beirut, Dubai and Riyadh.
