With regional skies only partially reopened after last week’s hostilities, UAE carriers have issued a consolidated 12 March operational bulletin outlining which routes are running, how to rebook and what passengers should expect at the airport. Emirates, Etihad Airways, flydubai and Air Arabia are collectively operating about 60 per cent of their normal Thursday schedule, according to data released by Gulf News at 08:21 local time. Services to high-demand cities such as London, Mumbai, Riyadh and Cairo are prioritised; some long-haul routes remain cancelled or consolidated. Passengers whose flights were cancelled between 28 February and 21 March can change dates free of charge or request refunds. Emirates is honouring unused coupons for travel until 30 April, while Etihad is offering rebooking through 15 May. Flydubai has opened a dedicated WhatsApp channel for real-time schedule updates, and Sharjah-based Air Arabia has introduced voucher refunds that can be applied to any destination within 12 months.
![UAE airlines publish 12 March flight status—reduced operations, flexible rebooking]()
For travellers juggling last-minute rebookings, another often-overlooked variable is entry documentation. VisaHQ’s UAE portal (https://www.visahq.com/united-arab-emirates/) allows passengers and mobility managers to check real-time visa requirements, submit e-visa applications and track status updates in one dashboard—useful if an itinerary change shortens the window before departure. The service can also arrange courier collection of passports for countries that still require stamped permits, reducing airport-day surprises.
Check-in counters at Dubai International (DXB) and Abu Dhabi International (AUH) now open four hours, not three, before departure to allow additional security briefings. Travellers are being asked to arrive only if they have a confirmed seat; those buying new tickets online are advised to wait for an “operational OK” email before heading to the airport. From a mobility-planning perspective the patchwork schedule means assignees and project teams should build at least 48-hour buffers into travel itineraries. Companies relocating staff into the UAE are urged to sequence housing viewings and medical-check appointments only after travellers have physically landed. On the export side, supply-chain managers moving critical spares or samples should factor in longer transit times and potential rerouting through secondary hubs such as Muscat or Bahrain. Aviation analysts believe the measured restart underscores the resilience of UAE hubs but caution that the situation could tighten again if geopolitical tensions flare. “Airlines are walking a tightrope between restoring connectivity and maintaining crew safety,” said John Strickland of JLS Consulting. The next decisive milestone will be the expected ICAO review of regional airspace corridors later this week.
For travellers juggling last-minute rebookings, another often-overlooked variable is entry documentation. VisaHQ’s UAE portal (https://www.visahq.com/united-arab-emirates/) allows passengers and mobility managers to check real-time visa requirements, submit e-visa applications and track status updates in one dashboard—useful if an itinerary change shortens the window before departure. The service can also arrange courier collection of passports for countries that still require stamped permits, reducing airport-day surprises.
Check-in counters at Dubai International (DXB) and Abu Dhabi International (AUH) now open four hours, not three, before departure to allow additional security briefings. Travellers are being asked to arrive only if they have a confirmed seat; those buying new tickets online are advised to wait for an “operational OK” email before heading to the airport. From a mobility-planning perspective the patchwork schedule means assignees and project teams should build at least 48-hour buffers into travel itineraries. Companies relocating staff into the UAE are urged to sequence housing viewings and medical-check appointments only after travellers have physically landed. On the export side, supply-chain managers moving critical spares or samples should factor in longer transit times and potential rerouting through secondary hubs such as Muscat or Bahrain. Aviation analysts believe the measured restart underscores the resilience of UAE hubs but caution that the situation could tighten again if geopolitical tensions flare. “Airlines are walking a tightrope between restoring connectivity and maintaining crew safety,” said John Strickland of JLS Consulting. The next decisive milestone will be the expected ICAO review of regional airspace corridors later this week.
