Dubai’s flagship carrier Emirates announced on Tuesday that it has resumed regularly scheduled operations following minimal disruption caused by heightened tensions in the Gulf region after Iran launched an attack on a US base in Qatar.
The airline stated it had “quickly activated its robust contingency and disruption plans, with no diversions, only a small number of cancellations, and a few flights experiencing longer flight paths due to airspace congestion.”
Tensions escalated after Israel attacked Iran’s military and nuclear sites on 13 June, killing several senior Iranian generals. In response, Iran launched missile attacks at multiple locations across Israel. On 23 June, Gulf nations including Qatar, Bahrain, and Kuwait closed their airspaces after Iran targeted Qatar’s Al Udeid Air Base, following a US strike on Iranian nuclear facilities the previous day.
A ceasefire was announced on Tuesday morning by US President Donald Trump. However, he later stated that both countries had since violated the truce. Although Iran and Israel initially confirmed the ceasefire, they later traded accusations of breaching the agreement.
Emirates briefly suspended flights to Amman and Beirut but later resumed operations to these destinations, while maintaining service to all others. The airline successfully rerouted flights to avoid conflict zones and maintained scheduled services throughout the crisis.
The carrier reported that it transported over 1.7 million passengers on more than 5,800 flights during the conflict period, highlighting its ability to adapt quickly and ensure continuity of service.
“Emirates took immediate action by suspending flights only to areas directly impacted by the conflict, while maintaining operations to all other destinations,” the airline said. It added that services to Amman and Beirut resumed swiftly, demonstrating its agility in prioritising safety while helping thousands of families begin their summer holidays.
The military escalation came at a time when the UAE is experiencing a sharp increase in outbound travel, with many residents heading to their home countries or cooler destinations for the summer.
“As Emirates gears up for the busy summer travel season, it will continue to actively monitor developments in coordination with the relevant authorities. The airline’s priority will always be to ensure safe and smooth operations by adapting quickly and appropriately, so that customers can travel with confidence,” the statement added. (Khaleej Times)
