ALBAWABA - Emirates Airlines announced in a recent travel update that it has decided to suspend its flights to Iran and Iraq until October 23, 2024. The move comes in reaction to the increasing tensions in the Middle East.
The decision comes after previous restrictions that were first scheduled to expire on October 8 were subsequently extended until October 16. As the airline continues to put passenger safety first, the measure affects flights to important destinations including Tehran and Baghdad.
Travelers who have Tehran and Baghdad as their final destinations will not be permitted to depart until after October 23, 2024. Those who intended to connect to these locations via Dubai are encouraged to modify their travel schedules and get in touch with their travel agencies or Emirates directly to look into other possibilities.
The airline has said that it is continuing to keep a close eye on the situation and is collaborating with the authorities in the region to reevaluate the viability of restarting operations.
In a positive development, travelers will be able to go to southern Iraq as Emirates will begin operating flights to Basra, Iraq, on October 17, 2024. Furthermore, Flydubai, a partner airline, has started operating again to Tehran, Baghdad, and Erbil, offering travelers who wish to get to these cities immediate flight choices.
Emirates has additionally decided to keep its flights to and from Beirut suspended until at least October 31, 2024. Passengers with Beirut as their ultimate destination will not be permitted to travel until further notice, similar to the situation with Iran and Iraq.
To guarantee they get timely notifications of any changes, Emirates has advised impacted customers to maintain their contact information current using the "Manage Your Booking" tool.
Emirates has also implemented a ban on pagers and walkie-talkies on all flights to, from, or via Dubai as part of its safety protocols. Checked-in and cabin baggage are no longer allowed to include these gadgets.
