LONDON – British Airways and Singapore Airlines suspended flights to Dubai on Sunday following overnight US airstrikes on Iranian nuclear sites, triggering widespread disruptions for travelers and heightening tensions across the region.
British Airways, the UK’s national carrier, cancelled its scheduled flights from Heathrow to Dubai and Doha, citing safety concerns. The airline confirmed it would halt all services to and from the Gulf for at least 24 hours, with ongoing assessments.
“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,” a British Airways spokesperson said. “We are contacting customers to advise them of their options while we work through this developing situation.”
Passengers booked to fly from Heathrow to Doha or Dubai between Sunday and Tuesday are being offered rebooking options for flights through July 6 at no additional charge.
The abrupt cancellations have left many travelers scrambling. Alex Cairns, 29, from Twickenham, told The Telegraph that he received the cancellation notice while on the final day of a five-day holiday in Dubai.
“I’m paying more money, but I just want to get home,” he said, after spending over £1,000 for replacement flights with Qatar Airways for himself and his mother.
He expressed frustration at the lack of advanced warning from British Airways.
“There was nothing to indicate from BA that a cancellation like this could happen. I think they’re being overcautious,” he added.
Singapore Airlines also confirmed the suspension of two flights in and out of Dubai on Sunday, citing a “security assessment of the geopolitical situation in the Middle East.” The airline noted that additional disruptions could follow depending on regional developments.
Affected customers will be contacted and offered refunds or rebooking, the airline said.
Meanwhile, Qatar Airways temporarily cancelled services to Iran, Iraq, and Syria, citing safety and ongoing regional volatility.
A spokesperson emphasized the carrier’s priority was operating under “the safest conditions possible at all times.”
Qatar Airways, which continued operations through the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining resilience in volatile environments.
Airlines have already been rerouting to avoid significant portions of Middle Eastern airspace since the onset of hostilities between Israel and Iran on June 13. Flightradar24 data shows near-total avoidance of skies over Iran, Iraq, and Syria.
Russian airspace remains closed to Western carriers, forcing flights bound for Northeast Asia to take detours over Turkey, the Caspian Sea, and Central Asia, adding hours to travel times.
One British Airways flight en route from Chennai to London turned back briefly on Sunday following news of the US strikes, before later refueling and completing its journey safely.
Major US carriers including Delta Air Lines and United Airlines had earlier suspended flights to Israel and later to Gulf destinations such as Dubai and Doha.
Dubai International Airport remains the world’s busiest hub by international passenger traffic, with over 90 million passengers annually. The city is a key destination for British travelers and is home to more than 240,000 UK nationals, according to Expat Insider.
Qatar’s capital, Doha, also hosts around 20,000 British expats and regularly welcomes more than five million visitors each year.
Despite the suspension by some airlines, flights by Emirates to Dubai and Qatar Airways to Doha continued as scheduled Sunday, according to Heathrow Airport data. British Airways flights to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia’s capital, also remained unaffected.
The sudden changes underscore the precariousness of the security situation in the Gulf following the US military operation. President Donald Trump described the airstrikes as a “spectacular military success,” while Iranian officials denounced them as “criminal aggression.”
UK authorities are monitoring the situation, with Foreign Secretary David Lammy and Prime Minister Keir Starmer reaffirming that the UK had no role in the strikes, though it was informed in advance. Repatriation plans for British citizens in Israel are also underway due to heightened regional risks.
