Air Canada has extended the suspension of its flights to and from Dubai and Tel Aviv until mid-January 2027, signalling that disruption to international air travel across the Middle East is likely to continue well into next year.
According to airline updates reported by Gulf News, Air Canada announced on August 4 that services to both destinations would remain suspended due to the continuing situation in the Middle East. The decision comes as airlines across Europe and Asia continue to adjust schedules, suspend routes and avoid parts of the region's airspace.
The extension makes Air Canada one of the first major carriers to push route suspensions into 2027, highlighting the prolonged operational challenges facing the aviation industry.
Air Canada's move follows a series of similar decisions by international airlines responding to ongoing regional security concerns and airspace restrictions.
Several carriers have extended suspensions on routes serving the Gulf and neighbouring markets, while others have reduced frequencies or altered flight paths to avoid affected airspace.
Among the latest airline updates:
• KLM has suspended flights to and from Dubai, Dammam and Riyadh until October 24, 2026.
• The Dutch carrier is not operating through Iranian or Iraqi airspace and continues to avoid parts of the Gulf region.
• Singapore Airlines has cancelled Dubai services SQ494 and SQ495 until October 24, 2026.
• Scoot, the airline group's low-cost subsidiary, has suspended Singapore-Jeddah services until September 12.
• Air Astana has halted flights from Almaty and Astana to Dubai until August 31, citing deterioration in conditions around the Strait of Hormuz and the wider Gulf region.
The impact is extending beyond airlines that directly serve conflict-affected destinations.
Several international carriers continue to review schedules across the Middle East as operational risks remain elevated.
Key developments include:
• Cathay Pacific expects Dubai flights to resume on October 25 and Riyadh services on October 26.
• British Airways continues to suspend flights to Dubai, Tel Aviv, Bahrain and Amman until October 25.
• British Airways has also reduced services to Doha and Riyadh and permanently suspended flights to Jeddah.
• Lufthansa Group, including Lufthansa, SWISS and Eurowings, has extended Dubai flight suspensions through October 24.
• Several Lufthansa Group airlines have also suspended services to destinations including Abu Dhabi, Beirut, Muscat, Tehran, Amman and Dammam.
• ITA Airways has suspended Riyadh flights until September 15 and Dubai services until October 24.
• Philippine Airlines continues to suspend Dubai flights until October 2 despite resuming Manila-Doha services.
Many airlines have introduced flexible travel measures as disruptions continue.
Airlines including Cathay Pacific, Air Astana, Singapore Airlines, ITA Airways and others are allowing eligible passengers to rebook flights, modify travel dates or request refunds, depending on ticket conditions.
Some carriers have also waived change fees and expanded travel windows to accommodate affected customers.
The latest extensions indicate airlines are preparing for a prolonged period of uncertainty rather than a short-term disruption.
While several carriers currently plan to resume services during October, Air Canada's decision to suspend Dubai and Tel Aviv routes until mid-January 2027 suggests that parts of the industry expect operational challenges to persist beyond the current travel season.
For travellers, the developments underscore the need to closely monitor airline advisories and route updates before making plans involving destinations across the Middle East.
As airlines continue to assess security conditions, airspace availability and operational risks, flight schedules across the region are likely to remain subject to change in the months ahead.
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