Raft of travel alerts and flight cancellations after US strike on Iran 

Flights to Dubai and other parts of the Middle East and Gulf region face disruption amid a raft of Foreign Office travel alerts following the US attack on Iran on Sunday.

 

British Airways suspended flights to Dubai and Doha while Gulf carriers altered schedules in the region.

 

A BA spokesperson reportedly said: "As a result of recent events, we have adjusted our flight schedule to ensure the safety of our customers and crew, which is always our top priority.

 

"We are contacting our customers to advise them of their options while we work through this developing situation."

 

BA took flights scheduled today (Monday) to and from Heathrow to Dubai and Doha out of service. 

 

The airline is offering a flexible booking policy for passengers booked onto services to the two Gulf destinations and want to change their dates of travel. 

 

Those due to travel today and tomorrow can rebook onto a later flight up to and including July 6 free of charge, by contacting BA by phone.

 

A BA spokesperson added: “Our flights to Dubai and Doha are scheduled to operate as normal and our teams continue to keep the situation under review.”

 

Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FDCO) advice for UK nationals in a host of countries including Israel, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait was updated in the wake of the attacks, with travellers being warned against all travel to some areas.  

 

The FCDO warned: “Ongoing hostilities in the region and between Israel and Iran could escalate quickly and pose security risks for the wider region.  

 

“There is a possibility of travel disruption, including short-notice airspace closures, delayed and cancelled flights, and other unanticipated travel impacts. 

 

The latest advisory for Israel noted that “Iran aligned militia groups” are likely to continue to conduct attacks after the US launched military strikes.

 

“This is a fast-moving situation that poses significant risks,” the FCDO added. “The situation has the potential to deteriorate further, quickly and without warning.”

 

The FDCO continues to advise against travel to all of Israel, Palestine, Iran, and Yemen, and parts of Iraq, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Lebanon.

 

The UK is preparing a rescue flight for Britons trapped in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

 

“The UK government has launched a flight registration form for British nationals to register their details and interest in the flight,” the FCDO said.

 

“Further flights will be considered depending on demand, and the latest security situation.

 

“The current situation has disrupted air links out of the country and may disrupt road links and border crossings."

 

An FCDO spokesperson said: "This is a perilous and volatile moment for the Middle East.

 

“The safety of British Nationals in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories continues to be our utmost priority – that’s why the UK government is preparing flights to help those wanting to leave.

 

“Working closely with the Israeli authorities, our staff are continuing to work at pace to assist British Nationals on the ground and ensure they receive the support they need.”

 

United Airlines flights to Dubai have been suspended until July 3 and to Tel Aviv until August 1 due to Middle East unrest.

 

Delta Air Lines flights to the Israeli gateway have been suspended until August 31 “due to the ongoing security situation”.

 

Emirates temporarily suspended all flights from Dubai to Tehran in Iran and Baghdad and Basra in Iraq until June 30 “due to the regional situation”.

 

"Customers connecting through Dubai with final destinations in Iraq and Iran will not be accepted for travel at their point of origin until further notice,” the airline said. 

 

“Customers departing or arriving at Dubai International airport are also advised to check their flight status on emirates.com for the latest information.

 

“We apologise for any inconvenience caused to our customers. We continue to closely monitor developments. The safety of our passengers, employees and operations will always be our top priority.

 

Etihad Airways suspended all flights between Abu Dhabi and Tel Aviv until July 15.

 

The UAE airline said: “This remains a highly dynamic situation and further changes or disruption, including sudden airspace closures or operational impact, may occur at short notice. 

 

"Etihad continues to monitor developments closely in co-ordination with the relevant authorities and is taking all necessary precautions.

 

Qatar Airways temporarily cancelled flights to Iran, Iraq and Syria due to the current situation in the region.

 

The Doha-based carrier also said a number of flights had been rescheduled over the coming weeks “in order to preserve the integrity, reliability and resilience of the airline’s global network. 

 

“In some cases, departure times may be earlier than originally scheduled. 

 

“The safety of our passengers and crew remains our highest priority and Qatar Airways fully complies with the international aviation regulations for safe aircraft routes.”

 

The affected airports in Iran include: Imam Khomeini, Mashhad and Shiraz.

 

Those in Iraq are Baghdad, Erbil, Basra, Sulaymaniyah and Najaf.

 

The affected airport in Syria is Damascus International.