Air connections with Dubai: when to expect flights from European carriers

Flight situation to Dubai

In October several major European airlines announced that the restart of their Dubai services would be pushed back. The main reason is the instability in the region, as reported by the Lufthansa Group on 23 October. Until then Lufthansa and SWISS had not flown to the emirate since March, and Eurowings had halted its flights at the start of the year.

Lufthansa Group plan for the end of the year

• Lufthansa intends to operate up to five weekly flights to Dubai from Frankfurt and Munich during the winter period.
• SWISS plans daily services from Zurich.
• Eurowings will resume daily flights only from Berlin; routes from Cologne and Stuttgart will stay cancelled.
• The restart for all three carriers is set for 25 November. Originally Lufthansa and SWISS aimed for 25 October, and Eurowings for 1 November, but the dates were shifted.
• In the peak season the Lufthansa Group could offer as many as 28 flights a week, though the airline warns that individual routes may change at the last minute.

Other European airlines

Airline	Current status	Planned restart date
British Airways	Restart already scheduled	3 November
ITA Airways	Suspension continues	until 30 November
Air France	No flights to Dubai	at least until 7 November
Cathay Pacific	Suspension until end of January	31 January
Singapore Airlines	Suspension until end of February	28 February
KLM	No restart before	27 March
Wizz Air	No restart before	28 March
Finnair	Fully cancelled Dubai flights for the winter season
Austrian Airlines	Returning on the Vienna‑Dubai route	12 December, 5 flights per week

These figures show that most large European carriers plan to be back in Dubai only in late November‑December, while a few aim for the spring period.

What’s happening with Russian routes

On 1 November further delays and cancellations involving Russian cities appeared. Air Arabia cancelled its Sharjah‑Moscow and Sharjah‑Yekaterinburg flights. flydubai delayed departures to Saint‑Petersburg and Samara, and Etihad’s Abu‑Dhabi‑Saint‑Petersburg flight also left later than scheduled.

What to do if your flight is cancelled

• Lufthansa Group airlines offer free rebooking on another flight or a refund.
• When schedules change, check your ticket status directly with the airline or through official online services.
• If you plan to travel to Dubai in the coming weeks, consider alternative options – other carriers that are already operating, or connecting routes via neighboring countries.

Outlook for the near future

Emirates and flydubai continue to serve most Dubai routes without changes, except for a few flights to Saudi Arabia. Still, the regional situation remains fluid, so travelers should regularly check timetable updates and be ready for possible adjustments.

If your travel dates line up with the restart of Lufthansa, SWISS or Eurowings, keep in mind that the peak period could see up to 28 flights a week, but individual services may be cancelled at the last minute. Build in extra time and follow official announcements to avoid unpleasant surprises.

Based on materials from: trn-news.ru.