Middle East flights: Air France suspends routes to Riyadh, Dubai and Beirut
Air France Halts Middle Eastern Routes Amid Security Concerns
Usagevpn.com – French carrier Air France has officially announced the temporary suspension of its flight services connecting to three major Middle Eastern destinations: Riyadh, Dubai, and Beirut. This decision comes in response to the ongoing security landscape across the region. On July 20, the airline published an official statement on its digital platform explaining that it is actively tracking developments in both the Near and Middle East on a real-time basis. The carrier cited potential airspace limitations as the primary reason for halting these particular routes.
Under the current suspension framework, Air France will not operate flights to or from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, through July 24. Services linking to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates will remain grounded until July 27. Additionally, the carrier has prolonged its pause on Beirut operations, Lebanon's capital, extending this period through August 2. According to the airline's communication, any return to normal operations will depend heavily on how the security environment evolves on the ground, which continues to be highly dynamic.
"The company constantly monitors the evolving geopolitical situation in the territories served and overflown by its aircraft in order to ensure the highest level of flight safety and security."
European Aviation Safety Agency Guidance
Broader regulatory guidance has also influenced airline decisions across the region. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency released its most recent Conflict Zone Information Bulletin on July 14. This advisory document recommended that commercial carriers steer clear of airspace covering Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, and the Gulf of Oman. This particular directive remains in effect through July 29, providing a clear timeframe for airlines to adjust their routing strategies accordingly.
Industry-Wide Suspension Patterns
As previously highlighted in Euronews Travel coverage, numerous international carriers have aligned their return schedules toward late October. A significant number of airlines plan to restart services around October 24 or 25, which coincides with the aviation sector's transition to its northern winter schedule. This timing allows carriers to assess longer-term stability before committing to full operational restoration.
KLM has modified its flight timetable and continues to watch regional developments closely. At present, the Dutch carrier avoids flying through Iranian, Iraqi, and Israeli airspace, along with several Gulf nations. KLM's suspension of services to and from Dammam and Riyadh extends through August 23, while Dubai connections face similar restrictions. The airline has also indicated that certain routes involving Beirut could experience disruptions until August 16.
Greece's premier airline, Aegean Airlines, has halted Dubai flights through August 31 and suspended services to Erbil and Baghdad until September 30. Singapore Airlines initially paused Dubai operations until August 2 but has since pushed this date forward to October 24. Its budget subsidiary, Scoot, confirmed that Jeddah flights will be cancelled through August 8.
Philippine Airlines brought back its Manila-Doha route on July 1, though connections to Dubai continue until October 2. British Airways has postponed several Middle Eastern services, with Dubai, Tel Aviv, Bahrain, and Amman remaining suspended until October 25. Doha services are set to return on August 1, while Riyadh connections resume on August 8.
North American and European carriers have also made adjustments. Air Canada keeps Dubai and Tel Aviv flights cancelled through October 24. Cathay Pacific plans to restart Dubai services on October 25 and Riyadh on October 26, shifting from its original September 1 target. Latvian carrier airBaltic has suspended Dubai flights until October 24.
The Lufthansa Group maintains a reduced operational footprint across the Middle East. SWISS has delayed its Tel Aviv resumption until August, while Brussels Airlines pauses Tel Aviv services through October 24. Both Lufthansa and SWISS keep Dubai flights suspended until September 13. Within the broader group network, connections to Abu Dhabi, Amman, Beirut, Dammam, Erbil, Muscat, Riyadh, and Tehran remain halted until October 24.