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Emirates Airlines, the world’s largest long-haul airline and the largest carrier in the Middle East, said Friday that it is operating a reduced flight schedule across more than 100 destinations.
The airline said in a post on X that customers can check the latest flight schedules and make bookings through its website.
It added that passengers making new bookings will be offered one complimentary date change within the validity period of their ticket to provide greater flexibility and peace of mind.
The move comes as the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) extended its conflict-zone advisory Thursday, warning airlines to avoid most Middle East and Gulf airspace until April 24 due to ongoing hostilities.
In its updated Conflict Zone Information Bulletin, EASA said the advisory remains in effect with “no changes to the content” and applies unless reviewed earlier.
The regulator said operators should avoid the affected airspace at all flight levels, covering Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and parts of Saudi Arabia, with limited exceptions for certain higher-altitude operations under strict risk assessments.
The advisory applies to EU airlines as well as third-country operators authorized by EASA when flying to, from or within the European Union. The previous advisory had been set to expire April 10.
EASA said the warning follows the escalation that began Feb. 28, when the United States and Israel launched strikes in Iran, triggering retaliatory attacks by Tehran and raising risks of miscalculation and interception failures across the region.
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Airlines have been buffeted by six weeks of war in the Middle East, forcing carriers to cut routes and control costs as fuel prices surge and demand weakens.
The disruption could persist even if a fragile ceasefire holds, as uncertainty continues to weigh on travel plans.
Carriers have largely halted flights in parts of the Gulf, with Air France extending its suspensions until May 3, a decision made before this week’s ceasefire between the United States and Iran, according to a source.
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