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Home » News » Major Flight Disruptions Across UAE: 34 Services Cancelled by Leading Airlines

Major Flight Disruptions Across UAE: 34 Services Cancelled by Leading Airlines

May 9, 2026
Major Flight Disruptions Across UAE: 34 Services Cancelled by Leading Airlines

A significant wave of flight cancellations has impacted travelers across the UAE, affecting key airports in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah. A total of 34 flights were suspended, directly influencing routes to major cities such as Mumbai, Delhi, Kochi, Riyadh, Nairobi, Bucharest, Amman, and more. This disruption has raised concerns for passengers intending to travel to these critical destinations.

Airlines such as Flydubai, IndiGo, Air Arabia, Saudia, Kenya Airways, Royal Jordanian, and Myanmar Airways International have all been involved in the cancellations, leading to operational strains on some of the busiest air corridors connecting the Gulf region with South Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and Europe.

As regional demand for air travel remains high, the recent cancellations highlight the vulnerability of flight schedules at Gulf hubs, where interconnected routing can quickly complicate travel plans for many passengers.

Flight Cancellations at Dubai International Airport

At Dubai International Airport, the bulk of the cancelled flights involved Flydubai services to various international destinations, particularly in Pakistan, which sees heavy usage from expatriates and business personnel. The suspended routes included:

  • Multan
  • Peshawar
  • Sialkot
  • Islamabad
  • Bahrain
  • Bucharest

These cancellations have affected major regional corridors that typically enjoy robust travel traffic, limiting options for many travelers.

Other significant cancellations from Dubai included:

  • Myanmar Airways International service to Yangon
  • Kenya Airways service to Nairobi

The impact was felt beyond regional operations, with European services also interrupted due to the suspension of flights to Bucharest.

Abu Dhabi International Airport: A Hub of Disruptions

Abu Dhabi International Airport reported the highest number of flight interruptions among the UAE’s key airports. A considerable portion of cancellations was attributed to IndiGo, a popular choice among travelers connecting India and the Emirates. The airlines suspended flights to:

  • Mumbai
  • Kochi
  • Lucknow
  • Delhi
  • Hyderabad

These routes experienced frequent cancellations over several days, suggesting ongoing operational challenges rather than merely isolated incidents.

Disruptions extended to other international and regional airlines as well, including:

  • Air Arabia Abu Dhabi to Lahore
  • Saudia to Riyadh
  • US-Bangla Airlines to Dhaka
  • Royal Jordanian to Amman

This broad spectrum of cancelled services has upended travel itineraries for tourists, business travelers, and expatriates navigating between these key regions.

Sharjah International Airport’s Regional Interruptions

Sharjah International Airport also faced multiple flight cancellations, primarily affecting Air Arabia’s extensive regional network. The impacted routes included essential connections to:

  • Salalah
  • Tbilisi
  • Sohag
  • Muscat
  • Bahrain
  • Yerevan

With its reputation as a budget airline hub, Sharjah plays a vital role in facilitating economical travel options across the Gulf, Caucasus, and North Africa.

Overview of Cancellations Across UAE Airports

Airport Airline Destination Number of Cancelled Flights
Dubai International Airport Flydubai Multan 2
Dubai International Airport Flydubai Peshawar 1
Dubai International Airport Flydubai Bahrain 1
Dubai International Airport Flydubai Sialkot 1
Dubai International Airport Flydubai Islamabad 1
Dubai International Airport Flydubai Bucharest 1
Dubai International Airport Myanmar Airways International Yangon 1
Dubai International Airport Kenya Airways Nairobi 1
Abu Dhabi International Airport Air Arabia Abu Dhabi Lahore 1
Abu Dhabi International Airport IndiGo Mumbai 3
Abu Dhabi International Airport IndiGo Kochi 3
Abu Dhabi International Airport IndiGo Lucknow 3
Abu Dhabi International Airport IndiGo Delhi 2
Abu Dhabi International Airport IndiGo Hyderabad 3
Abu Dhabi International Airport Saudia Riyadh 2
Abu Dhabi International Airport US-Bangla Airlines Dhaka 1
Abu Dhabi International Airport Royal Jordanian Amman 1
Sharjah International Airport Air Arabia Salalah 1
Sharjah International Airport Air Arabia Tbilisi 1
Sharjah International Airport Air Arabia Sohag 1
Sharjah International Airport Air Arabia Muscat 1
Sharjah International Airport Air Arabia Bahrain 1
Sharjah International Airport Air Arabia Yerevan 1

Implications for Travelers

The flight cancellations have caused immediate confusion for many traveling through the UAE’s airports, leaving passengers scrambling for alternative flights and rebooking assistance. Those impacted face a myriad of challenges, including:

  • Delays in departures
  • Missed connections
  • Limited options for alternate flights
  • Higher costs for last-minute tickets
  • Long waits at airport help desks
  • Delays on refund processing

Business travelers, alongside those in transit, are likely to feel the most significant impact due to the tightly coordinated nature of Gulf aviation schedules with limited gaps between flights.

Vulnerability of South Asian Routes

A closer look at the affected routes reveals a troubling trend; most cancellations were recorded on paths between the UAE and South Asia. Cities such as Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kochi, and major Pakistani cities faced numerous disruptions due to their high traffic volumes. The fast-paced nature of operations in these sectors makes them particularly susceptible to scheduling flaws.

Continued Pressure on Regional Aviation Networks

The flight disruptions in the UAE serve as a stark reminder of how operations issues like aircraft scheduling conflicts, maintenance, crew shortages, or airport congestion can ripple through international markets.

With Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah being pivotal transit points connecting major global geographies, simultaneous disruptions at these hubs can affect travelers on multiple continents. As airlines work to restore normal flight schedules, passengers may still encounter uncertainties on various routes in the upcoming days.

Source: The post Flydubai, IndiGo, Air Arabia, Saudia, and More Trigger Major UAE Travel Disruption as 34 Flights Are Cancelled Across Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah Impacting Routes to Mumbai, Delhi, Kochi, Riyadh, Nairobi, Bucharest, Amman, and More – New Update You Need to Know first appeared on www.travelandtourworld.com.

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