Gulf crisis hit flyers: Etihad Airways halts Abu Dhabi flights till  5 March

Etihad Airways

• Etihad halts Abu Dhabi flights until March 5 amid Gulf tensions
• Passengers advised to confirm with airline before heading to airport
• Affected travelers can rebook or get refunds for canceled flights

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Amid continuing tensions and airspace disruptions in the Gulf region, UAE-based carrier Etihad Airways has suspended all scheduled commercial flights to and from Abu Dhabi until UAE time on Thursday, March 5.

In a statement, the airline said, “All Etihad’s scheduled commercial flights to and from Abu Dhabi remain suspended until UAE time on Thursday 5 March.”

The airline clarified that “Some repositioning, cargo and repatriation flights may operate in coordination with UAE authorities and subject to strict operational and safety approvals.”

Etihad has urged passengers not to head to the airport without confirmation. “Guests should not travel to the airport unless they have been contacted directly by Etihad and advised to do so,” the airline stated, adding that access to the airport would be restricted for those without confirmed travel documentation.

Passengers have also been advised to check flight status on the airline’s website before travelling and ensure their contact details are updated in their bookings.

Earlier, long-haul carriers Emirates and Etihad had begun limited operations on Monday after halting flights due to the ongoing conflict. Flight-tracking data showed Etihad aircraft resuming movement first.

The Dubai government described the move as a “limited resumption of operations,” asking passengers to come to the airport only if directly contacted by their airline.

Etihad further announced relief measures for affected travellers. The airline said guests holding tickets issued on or before February 28 for travel up to March 7 may rebook free of charge on Etihad-operated flights up to March 18. Refunds are also being offered to impacted passengers.

Budget airline SpiceJet reported multiple flight cancellations from the UAE due to the airspace closure.

In a separate statement, Akasa Air said it would operate select flights to and from Jeddah on March 3 and 4 after conducting a comprehensive safety review. The airline announced Mumbai–Jeddah and Ahmedabad–Jeddah services on specified dates, while noting that operations remain subject to prevailing conditions.

However, Akasa Air confirmed that its flights to and from Abu Dhabi, Doha, Kuwait and Riyadh will remain suspended until March 4. “The safety and well-being of our passengers and crew remain our highest priority,” the airline said, urging travellers to check flight status before heading to the airport.

Adding to efforts to assist stranded passengers, the Embassy of India in Saudi Arabia said in a post on X that IndiGo will operate special flights from Jeddah to India. The Embassy stated, “IndiGo Airlines to fly special flights to India from Jeddah.”

Authorities and airlines across the Gulf continue to monitor the evolving situation, with safety assessments guiding the gradual and limited resumption of flight operations.