Polish flag carrier LOT has added two Gulf destinations to its growing list of no-fly zones as the security situation in the Middle East deteriorates. The airline confirmed on 2 March that all Warsaw–Dubai services are cancelled through 4 March and Warsaw–Riyadh flights through 8 March, citing guidance from the EU Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). Connections to Tel Aviv remain suspended until at least 15 March.
LOT’s spokesperson Krzysztof Moczulski said operational teams are “in constant contact” with roughly 1,800 affected passengers, offering free re-routing, full refunds or open tickets valid for 12 months. While the rest of the carrier’s network is functioning normally, eastbound services to Bangkok and Delhi are experiencing longer routings to avoid closed Iranian and Iraqi airspace, adding up to 45 minutes block time and requiring additional fuel stops for cargo flights.
The cancellations land at the worst possible moment for Polish corporates with regional projects. Dubai is a key hub for Polish construction firms bidding on Expo City contracts, and Riyadh has become a top destination for energy-sector engineers since Saudi Aramco awarded pipeline tenders to several Central European contractors last year. Travel managers are scrambling to shift teams onto indirect itineraries via Ankara, Muscat or Cairo, but seat availability is tightening fast and prices are up 35 percent week-on-week, according to GDS data compiled by the Polish Business Travel Association.
![LOT Cancels Dubai and Riyadh Flights, Extends Tel Aviv Suspension]()
For travellers rerouted through these third-country hubs, last-minute visa paperwork can become an unexpected obstacle. VisaHQ’s online platform (https://www.visahq.com/poland/) lets Polish passport holders and foreign residents instantly check transit and entry requirements and submit applications digitally—even offering expedited options for destinations such as Turkey, Oman or Egypt—helping keep disrupted journeys on schedule.
Risk consultants note that other European carriers—including Lufthansa and Air France—have also suspended specific Middle East routes, raising the likelihood of further knock-on disruptions at Warsaw Chopin Airport if diverted aircraft require ground-handling slots. Companies are advised to review travel-approval processes, check insurance exclusions related to war zones and remind travellers to register their trips in the government’s Odyseusz system.
LOT says it is monitoring the geopolitical situation “hour by hour” and will reinstate flights only once EASA downgrades its risk bulletin for the region. In the meantime, passengers with urgent travel needs are encouraged to contact LOT’s 24/7 hotline or their travel advisors for alternative routings.
LOT’s spokesperson Krzysztof Moczulski said operational teams are “in constant contact” with roughly 1,800 affected passengers, offering free re-routing, full refunds or open tickets valid for 12 months. While the rest of the carrier’s network is functioning normally, eastbound services to Bangkok and Delhi are experiencing longer routings to avoid closed Iranian and Iraqi airspace, adding up to 45 minutes block time and requiring additional fuel stops for cargo flights.
The cancellations land at the worst possible moment for Polish corporates with regional projects. Dubai is a key hub for Polish construction firms bidding on Expo City contracts, and Riyadh has become a top destination for energy-sector engineers since Saudi Aramco awarded pipeline tenders to several Central European contractors last year. Travel managers are scrambling to shift teams onto indirect itineraries via Ankara, Muscat or Cairo, but seat availability is tightening fast and prices are up 35 percent week-on-week, according to GDS data compiled by the Polish Business Travel Association.
For travellers rerouted through these third-country hubs, last-minute visa paperwork can become an unexpected obstacle. VisaHQ’s online platform (https://www.visahq.com/poland/) lets Polish passport holders and foreign residents instantly check transit and entry requirements and submit applications digitally—even offering expedited options for destinations such as Turkey, Oman or Egypt—helping keep disrupted journeys on schedule.
Risk consultants note that other European carriers—including Lufthansa and Air France—have also suspended specific Middle East routes, raising the likelihood of further knock-on disruptions at Warsaw Chopin Airport if diverted aircraft require ground-handling slots. Companies are advised to review travel-approval processes, check insurance exclusions related to war zones and remind travellers to register their trips in the government’s Odyseusz system.
LOT says it is monitoring the geopolitical situation “hour by hour” and will reinstate flights only once EASA downgrades its risk bulletin for the region. In the meantime, passengers with urgent travel needs are encouraged to contact LOT’s 24/7 hotline or their travel advisors for alternative routings.
