The cancellations come after the US and Israeli forces struck Iran on Saturday morning. The joint operation was described as a “pre-emptive” strike against the Tehran government’s plans to develop nuclear weapons. Iran retaliated with missiles targeting Israel and other countries across the Middle East.
The UAE suffered major attacks at three of its prominent airports. Flights at Dubai, Doha and Abu Dhabi, some of the world’s busiest international airports, have been suspended.
The three airports, on average, see 20,000 landings and departures every hour, though several major airlines have advised travellers to rebook flights or request full refunds.
The airline also advised passengers booked to travel before or on March 5 to rebook on an alternate flight or request a refund.
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Etihad Airways informed travellers that all flights to and from Abu Dhabi were suspended until 2am UAE time on Monday. It advised passengers to check their flight status on its website before travelling to the airport and ensure that their contact details are up to date in their booking, reports The Independent.
Those with Etihad tickets for travel through March 3 can also request a full refund.
Qatar Airways also said flights are temporarily suspended and warned people about scammers impersonating its staff.
Virgin Atlantic said on Sunday morning that it is continuing to avoid Iraqi airspace, resulting in some pre-planned rerouting of flights between London Heathrow and the region.
A spokesperson stated that flights between London Heathrow and Dubai and services between Heathrow and Riyadh had been cancelled on Sunday and Monday.
A spokesperson added: “We continue to monitor the situation in the Middle East with ongoing dynamic assessments and active changes to our flight routings based on the latest information and guidance, if required.”
There are still 83 flights scheduled to operate between the UK and the Middle East on Sunday, according to aviation analytics company Cirium.
The Foreign Office urges that British nationals in the UAE should register their presence, remain indoors in a secure location, avoid all travel and follow instructions from the local authorities.
This story originally appeared on Express.co.uk
