Is Abu Dhabi Airport Open? Zayed International Airport Open but Operating at Reduced Capacity

Abu Dhabi’s Zayed International Airport (code: AUH) is open as of Saturday, March 28, 2026, but is operating at significantly reduced capacity amid ongoing regional tensions and recent adverse weather. The airport has rebuilt a partial schedule since full suspensions in late February and early March; current operations are running at roughly 40% to 70% of normal capacity depending on the day and airline. Etihad Airways is operating approximately 60–70 daily departures focused on major hubs including London Heathrow, Paris, Mumbai, Bangkok and New York JFK, while many international carriers have cut frequencies, rerouted services or suspended operations.

"Passengers are advised not to travel to the airport unless they hold a confirmed ticket and have been explicitly advised by their airline to do so."

Context and recent timeline

The reduced operations trace back to airspace closures that began around Feb. 28, 2026, following reported military actions in the region. At the peak of disruption more than 4,000 daily flights across Gulf hubs were affected, leaving hundreds of thousands of passengers stranded worldwide. Abu Dhabi Airports, the operator, confirmed a partial resumption of services on March 2, and Etihad restarted select commercial services by March 6. Since then, a mix of exceptional, priority and repatriation flights has been phased in alongside a thinned commercial schedule.

Recovery has been uneven. Weather on March 26 brought heavy rain to Abu Dhabi and Dubai, compounding delays and cancellations even as limited services resumed. Live tracking platforms such as Flightradar24 and the airport departures board showed a patchwork of activity on Saturday: an Etihad service to Paris (EY031) operated while other services, including some to Amsterdam, were listed as cancelled. British Airways has halted Abu Dhabi services through late October or beyond, and carriers including Lufthansa and multiple Indian airlines have implemented temporary route cuts or issued full refunds for impacted bookings.

Practical details for travellers

• Check directly with your airline before travelling — Etihad recommends checking etihad.com for the latest status and keeping contact details current for rebooking notifications.
• Use the Zayed International Airport website (zayedinternationalairport.ae) and global trackers such as FlightAware, Flightradar24 or Skyscanner for real-time updates on departures, arrivals and gate information.
• Services such as the Airport Express bus to Dubai and Salam Meet & Assist remain available for passengers who are cleared to travel.
• If your flight is cancelled or suspended, options include rebooking on limited services, seeking refunds or rerouting through less-affected airports; contact your carrier promptly.

Outlook

Aviation analysts cited by airport advisories expect a gradual ramp-up through April, but capacity and schedules remain fluid and subject to rapid change as security considerations and weather persist. Some European and Asian routes could take months to return to pre-disruption frequencies. Travellers are advised to monitor official channels closely, consider travel insurance for disruption coverage, and allow extra buffer time for connections through AUH while authorities prioritise safety and phased restoration of normal operations.