Following the UAE’s decision to seal its airspace, home carriers Emirates and Etihad announced the grounding of their combined 335-strong passenger fleet late on 28 February. In statements issued 30 minutes apart, both airlines confirmed suspension of all departures ‘until at least 3 March,’ triggering the largest operational stand-down in their histories. Emirates activated its Irregular Operations (IROPS) command centre, waiving change fees, extending ticket validity and offering full refunds or alternative routings via partner airlines once neighbouring corridors reopen. Etihad set up a ‘Guest Care Hub’ inside Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre, equipped with 2,000 camp-beds and staffed by volunteers from ground-handler ADAC. The pause rippled through global schedules: Qantas suspended its ‘Kangaroo Route’ fifth-freedom services through Dubai, Air Canada re-routed Toronto–Delhi flights over the North Pole, and cargo specialist Cargolux diverted Luxembourg-Hong Kong freighters to Baku to refuel and swap crews.
![Emirates and Etihad ground fleets, activate crisis rebooking for stranded passengers]()
Amid the flight suspensions, VisaHQ can help ease the administrative burden. Through its portal (https://www.visahq.com/united-arab-emirates/) the service monitors real-time UAE entry advisories and enables travellers to apply for, amend or expedite visas online, giving stranded passengers and mobility managers one less variable to worry about as they rebuild itineraries.
For mobility professionals the grounding complicates rotational-worker cycles into UAE energy projects and delays onboarding of new expatriate assignments keyed to 1 March payroll cut-offs. Global relocation firms are advising clients to push start-dates by at least two weeks and to secure temporary accommodations in Bahrain or Oman where flight links remain sporadically available. Both carriers say restart dates will depend on an ‘acceptable risk picture’ validated by the UAE’s National Emergency Crisis and Disasters Management Authority. Travellers holding tickets through 15 March may rebook in the same cabin class without penalty or request travel vouchers valid for 24 months.
Amid the flight suspensions, VisaHQ can help ease the administrative burden. Through its portal (https://www.visahq.com/united-arab-emirates/) the service monitors real-time UAE entry advisories and enables travellers to apply for, amend or expedite visas online, giving stranded passengers and mobility managers one less variable to worry about as they rebuild itineraries.
For mobility professionals the grounding complicates rotational-worker cycles into UAE energy projects and delays onboarding of new expatriate assignments keyed to 1 March payroll cut-offs. Global relocation firms are advising clients to push start-dates by at least two weeks and to secure temporary accommodations in Bahrain or Oman where flight links remain sporadically available. Both carriers say restart dates will depend on an ‘acceptable risk picture’ validated by the UAE’s National Emergency Crisis and Disasters Management Authority. Travellers holding tickets through 15 March may rebook in the same cabin class without penalty or request travel vouchers valid for 24 months.
