If you hold a ticket to Dubai on a foreign airline this autumn, check it again this week. A fresh round-up by Time Out Dubai counts 17 international airlines whose Dubai services are still suspended, even as Dubai International operates close to full capacity and Emirates and flydubai run wide-ranging schedules.

The return dates vary enormously, which is why a single headline does not help any individual traveller. What matters is your carrier’s own date, and those dates have moved repeatedly this year.

The longest pauses in the latest list

  • Finnair: Helsinki-Dubai suspended for the whole winter 2026/27 season; the seasonal route was due to run October 25 to March 27 and is now not expected back before October 2027
  • Cathay Pacific: cancelled to and from Dubai up to and including January 31, with flexible rebooking, rerouting or refunds
  • Air Canada: cancelled until the end of March 2027
  • Austrian Airlines: cancelled until December, resuming Vienna-Dubai on December 12 with five weekly flights
  • British Airways: paused up to and including November 3, then initially daily
Passengers checking a departure board in an airport terminal
Travellers on affected carriers are offered rebooking, rerouting or refunds, depending on the airline.

Carriers due back sooner

At the nearer end of the list, Aegean does not operate Athens-Dubai until October 23 (while selling Emirates-operated codeshares), Air France’s latest extension runs to and including October 24, and Eurowings is due back from November 1 with Berlin and Stuttgart services, followed by Cologne/Bonn from November 3. All of these dates come from the same Time Out round-up and remain subject to each airline’s own updates — airlines have extended suspensions at short notice before, so treat any date as provisional until your booking shows as operating.

What to do if your airline is on the list

Start in the airline’s app or manage-booking page, not at the airport. Flexible conditions on several carriers let you rebook, reroute or take a refund; codeshares operated by Emirates may still run even when the marketing carrier’s own aircraft do not. If a delay strands you in Dubai, our Dubai International Airport guide, hotels near DXB and Dubai tourist visa guide cover the basics, and the Dubai trip cost page helps re-plan a shifted trip.

Airplane wing over Dubai skyline during approach
Return dates differ sharply by airline, from late October to March 2027.

FAQs

How many airlines still have Dubai flights suspended?

Time Out Dubai’s latest round-up lists 17 international carriers.

Which airline is away the longest?

Finnair has suspended its seasonal Helsinki-Dubai route for the whole winter 2026/27 season, with no return expected before October 2027 in the latest report.

Is Dubai International Airport operating normally?

The round-up says DXB is operating close to full capacity, with Emirates and flydubai running wide schedules.

Can these return dates change?

Yes. Several airlines have extended suspensions repeatedly, so confirm in your booking before travelling to the airport.