Abu Dhabi: Etihad Airways issues flights update as planes leave Dubai

Etihad Airways said it will restart a limited number of commercial flights to and from Abu Dhabi from Friday, 6 March 2026, after a period of suspension amid regional attacks that have rocked the UAE and neighbouring states. The airline confirmed routes to London and New York are included in the initial schedule as authorities continue to assess safety following missile and drone activity, and reported incidents in the Emirati capital that have left six people injured.

"The decision has been taken in coordination with relevant authorities following extensive safety and security assessments. Etihad continues to monitor the situation closely and will only operate flights once all safety criteria are met," the carrier said in a statement shared on its social channels.

The limited resumption follows several days of disruption across the Gulf after Iran said its armed forces launched operations targeting locations in Iraq and elsewhere. The UAE Ministry of Defence said, "the UAE's air defenses are currently dealing with incoming missile and drone threats from Iran", and residents in Abu Dhabi and Dubai reported loud explosions and received official alerts to seek immediate shelter. The interior ministry alert advised: “Due to the current situation, potential missile threats, seek immediate shelter in the closest secure building and steer away from windows, doors and open areas.”

Operational impact and passenger guidance

Etihad’s update stressed that all other scheduled commercial services to and from Abu Dhabi remain suspended for the moment, and that affected passengers will receive direct communication confirming flight status and options. The airline encouraged customers to check etihad.com, ensure contact details are up to date and use the online refund form for ticket refunds where applicable. It also offered rebooking flexibility: passengers holding Etihad tickets issued on or before 28 February 2026, with original travel dates up to 21 March 2026, may rebook free of charge onto Etihad-operated flights up to 15 May 2026.

• Six people were reported injured in Abu Dhabi after debris fell while drones were intercepted.
• Dubai Airports said it operated 1,140 flights in 84 hours between 2 and 5 March, handling more than 500 outbound flights and providing over 105,000 seats to more than 80 countries.
• Flight traffic at Dubai had recovered to roughly 25% of normal levels according to Flightradar24 data cited in coverage of the disruption.
• Basra International Airport was reported targeted by a drone, and Bahrain reported a fire at an oil facility after an attack.

Outlook

Etihad said it will add additional destinations as conditions permit and reiterated that services will only operate once safety criteria are fully satisfied. The airline warned of high call volumes and encouraged use of online channels for refunds and updates. More broadly, authorities in the UAE and neighbouring Gulf states continue to manage air-defence responses and issue public safety alerts, while international airline operations are being restored in a phased manner as security assessments allow.