Temporary Partial Airspace Closure
 

For those flying to/from DXB (and AUH, SHJ), there is a temporary partial closure of airspace, EK seems to have cancelled an umber of flights pre-emptively in the last 15 minutes and many are holding in the area. Some have diverted (VKO --> GYD) and some other non-EK flights are returning to origin (TK-IST, EW-->BER, DE --> STR)

https://www.wam.ae/en/article/byyv9j...ce-exceptional

ETA: Some EK flights are now diverting to MCT.

explosions heard in Abu dhabi, videos circulating, presumably targeting the US station there

EK Cancelled flights are limited to regional flights / impacted areas:

971/972 from IKA
941/942 to/from BGW
943/944 to/from BGW
945/946 to/from BSR
903/904 to/from AMM
905/906 to/from AMM
853/854 to/from KWI
857/858 to/from KWI
859/860 to/from KWI
875/876 to/from KWI
953/954 to/from BEY
957/958 to/from BEY
835/836 to/from BAH
839/840 tofrom BAH

All flight which were going to depart DXB around now are delayed by around two hours (at least for the moment )
this a dynamic situation and further delays / cancellations can be expected (this is my speculation from experience …)
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...67af94bb25.png

I cannot see any flights leaving Dubai or Abu Dhabi today. Just too risky.

Indeed: EK has just suspended ALL FLIGHTS to and from DXB:

https://www.emirates.com/sg/english/...-updates/#6480

Hope everyone stays safe.
Yesterday's EK147/EK148 to / from AMS had adaptations in flight path going east&west.
Unsure at AMS if EK flights today are operating at all.

See the post directly above yours...

I just flew from DXB yesterday to GIG. It is a bit surrealistic to wake up today to realize all that was just about to happen right after we left UAE airspace.;
Consider the longstanding close connections between various Gulf states and Iran ( sharing the Abu Musa oilfield, for example between Sharjah and Iran) not to mention the large Shia'a populations in the eastern Province of Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar and Kuwait;
Then consider the centuries-long disputes of various types throughout the region, many of which have festered and been suppressed throughout the region;
Then consider the Netanyahu government and the also festering internal issues in Israel;
Then consider also the evolving development of Israel recognition by Gulf states and other Arab countries , every one of which are not Shia'a controlled;

All of those things are very relevant the rapid development of Emirates, Etihad and Qatar airlines, all of which depend on stable airspace, congenial tourism and expatriate policies and prosperous local economies.

Then enter two politicians with somewhat fragile national politics in the form of Trump and Netanyahu, and couple those with a fragile and not very competent government in Iran. That is a perfect world to offer belligerence and interventionistic leadership to use military action as a means to avoid messy domestic issues.

In that world there is threat to my two favorite airlines EK and QR.

FWIW, it is now a little more than fifty years since my four favorite airlines were IranAir,and Pan Am long haul and Middle East Airlines and Gulf Air regionally. Then the B747SP made nonstop flights from the Middle East to US pleasurable (in First, that is) with the TriStar making Bahrain trips a joy. All of those pretty much disappeared due to Midddle East /western political machinations. Gulf Air, the exception ceded its position to the emergence of EK, QR and EY.

I cannot help but wonder if EK, EY and QR will be unscathed in the present circumstances. It is relevant also that the Straits of Hormuz are so central to conflicts.

I hope I have not gone too far off-topic. I don't think so, since EK, as I write, is completely shut down due to events completely out of UAE control.

I cannot help but to be saddened as my favorite places and past residences continue to be damaged by geopolitics conducted by people who have no idea what they are toying with nor the huge consequences their ignorance brings. It has been ever thus, for more than 2000 years. Will people never learn?

As i write this I'm sitting at my desk with EK pajamas and memorabilia of those past events surrounding me.

MCT and RUH are the only significant airports that can have approach and departure flights entirely outside Gulf risk areas. Oman, FWIW, was the first Arab country to officially recognize the United States, and welcomed the first US ship in 1790.

Really hope that those impacted on EK, EY, and QR flights aren't terribly inconvenienced, but this is looking like a very difficult set of days if not weeks or longer.

Those of us who have EK flights booked for later this year are also watching with concern. I myself wonder if EK and EY will do a better job than how QR handled its airspace closure last July. This time, all 3 are affected.

To those finding themselves with an unplanned overnight in DXB, my recommendation is to avoid the Marina / JBR / Palm / JVC / JVT / JLT areas, they are closer to the "action" (Minhad base) and most real pictures are originating from one of those areas. Choose Downtown, DIFC, WTC, Deira, and Garhoud, and other areas near the airport.

If someone requires assistance with anything here in Dubai, I am a PM away.

Ajman and points North may have less congestion. Maybe even Sharjah but the LCC's from SHJ are probably taking the least expensive locations.

Don't count on that. The last time is was local politics, this time it's geopolitics. There is no way to guess how long or short this one will be.

To answer your own question: yes, you did go far off topic with more than half of your post getting into political matters, some of which are a false narratives. I will not go beyond that.

On topic, everyone should expect major flight disruptions throughout the Middle East for many days if not weeks.