Many Middle East flights still grounded as strikes on Lebanon intensify

Emirates will resume flights to Jordan on Sunday but has extended its suspension of services to Iraq and Iran

Flames and smoke rise from a building struck just outside the perimeter fence of Rafik Hariri International airport in Beirut in the early hours of Friday. Hussein Malla / AP

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Many flights to and from Middle East hubs remained cancelled on Saturday amid deadly conflict in the region which threatens to escalate further.

Iran's attack on Israel this week and a potential retaliation has left the Middle East in a precarious position, with multiple airlines cancelling flights to destinations in the region.

Dubai-based airline Emirates had cancelled flights to and from Iraq (Basra and Baghdad), Iran (Tehran) and Jordan (Amman) until Saturday due to the situations.

On Friday, Emirates announced its services to Jordan would resume on Sunday following an operational review. But the suspension of flights to Iraq and Iran has been extended up to and including Monday (October 7).

Customers transiting through Dubai with final destinations in Iraq and Iran will not be accepted for travel at their point of origin until further notice, the airline said.

"We continue to closely monitor the situation in the region and are in contact with the relevant authorities regarding developments."

Most international flights to and from Lebanon are suspended, though national carrier Middle East Airlines (MEA) is operating some services.

On Thursday night, Israel bombed a residential building on the edge of Rafic-Hariri International Airport, minutes after a MEA flight from Dubai landed on the tarmac. The plane and airport were not affected.

Earlier in the week, Emirates announced it was cancelling all flights to Beirut until October 8.

Abu Dhabi's Etihad Airways resumed its service to Tel Aviv on Thursday. “The airline is closely monitoring the situation and remains in constant communication with relevant authorities and security intelligence providers,” a representative confirmed.

The airline also told The National its services to and from Beirut will remain cancelled until October 11. The affected flights are EY535 and EY538.

Flydubai is resuming flights to Iran, Iraq, Israel and Jordan on Friday morning, the airline confirmed.

"Flydubai flights to Iran, Iraq, Israel and Jordan will resume from October 4," said a representative. "We are monitoring the situation closely and will amend our flight schedule if required. Flydubai operates within flight paths approved by the regulator, and the safety of our passengers and crew remains our top priority."

Flights from the airline to Beirut remain cancelled until October 7 inclusively, the representative said.

Gulf airlines halt flights

Air Arabia flights going from Beirut to Sharjah and Abu Dhabi remain suspended, while Egyptair said it was suspending flights to Beirut indefinitely. Jordan's flag carrier Royal Jordanian said flights to Beirut were not operating “due to the current situation”.

Iran Air and Iraqi Airways have suspended flights to the Lebanese capital “until further notice”, news agencies in the respective countries reported.

Bahrain's Gulf Air and Doha-based Qatar Airways took similar steps because of security concerns. The National has contacted Saudia and Gulf Air for comment.

Lebanon's Middle East Airlines remains the only airline operating from Beirut. Other countries, including Britain, France and Ireland are calling on their citizens to leave. On Saturday, the European Commission and the EU Aviation Safety Agency issued conflict zone information bulletins recommending that airlines avoid operating in the airspace of Lebanon and of Israel “at all flight levels”.