Suspended Middle East Flights: Alternatives from London Summer 2026

Suspension summary as of 9 May 2026

According to Travel And Tour World, British Airways has suspended all flights to Tel Aviv, Dubai, Amman and Beirut until at least 30 June 2026. easyJet has kept all Tel Aviv routes suspended with no confirmed resumption for summer. The Lufthansa Group is even more conservative: Dubai and Tel Aviv suspended until 31 May, and Abu Dhabi, Amman, Beirut, Dammam and Riyadh until 24 October 2026. As confirmed by British Airways, a return of some services is planned from 1 July as one daily flight to Dubai and Tel Aviv, though this remains subject to the operational situation.

Key points to remember

• UAE airspace has been fully reopened since 3 May 2026 — it is the airlines themselves choosing not to resume, not the airport.
• El Al is maintaining a record schedule of around 900 weekly flights from Tel Aviv — currently the only direct London–Tel Aviv alternative.
• EASA CZIB bulletin 2026-03-R9 expires 12 May but is renewable — airlines are using it as their main resumption criterion.

What you can claim — and what you cannot

According to the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), the closure of airspace linked to armed conflict constitutes « extraordinary circumstances » under UK261 (the UK’s retained version of EC 261/2004 post-Brexit). This means airlines are not required to pay flat-rate compensation (£220, £350 or £520 depending on flight distance). However, they must offer either a full refund of your ticket within 7 days, or re-routing to your destination under comparable conditions. If you are stranded abroad, duty of care (hotel, meals, communications) remains mandatory regardless.

For disputes, the CAA recommends using an approved Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) scheme such as CEDR or Aviation ADR. Unlike France, UK ADR schemes are voluntary for airlines but most major carriers are signed up. Our practical guide on passenger rights for cancelled flights walks through the process step by step.

Key points

• Package holidays: your tour operator or travel agent must refund you within 14 days under the Package Travel Regulations 2018. Vouchers can be refused — demand a cash refund.
• The EU confirmed on 8 May 2026 that airlines cannot add fuel surcharges to tickets already paid for — this also applies to UK-departing flights under UK261.
• Some budget carriers attempted to invoke the Middle East situation to cancel unrelated domestic or European routes — legally questionable and being challenged by the CAA.

Amman, Petra, Wadi Rum — accessible and uncrowded

Jordan is the most recommended alternative for summer 2026. According to Expedia UK, Royal Jordanian operates 14 flights per week between London Heathrow and Amman’s Queen Alia International Airport, with fares from £617 return — up roughly 35% on last year due to demand. Amman airport is fully operational. The FCDO advises against all but essential travel to Jordan due to regional tensions — however, the tourist zones (Amman city, Petra, Wadi Rum, the Dead Sea and Aqaba) continue to operate normally. Read the latest FCDO Jordan travel advice before booking. For itinerary inspiration, see our Pixidia Jordan travel guide.

One upside of the crisis: tourist numbers at Petra have collapsed by up to 90% compared to normal summer levels. This is a genuine opportunity to visit the Nabataean city without the usual queues — a rare situation for what is normally one of the world’s most crowded archaeological sites.

Key points

• Royal Jordanian is operating normally; Jordanian airspace is open — the FCDO advises « all but essential travel » but tourist areas are unaffected.
• Petra at 10% of its usual occupancy: near-zero queues, an extraordinary chance for archaeology enthusiasts.
• Wadi Rum, the Dead Sea and Aqaba are all accessible — ideal terrain for walkers and families.

Istanbul — a destination in its own right and a gateway to the Middle East

According to Wego Travel Blog, Turkish Airlines resumed flights to Beirut and Amman from 1 May 2026, and plans to resume Riyadh in mid-May. Dubai and Tel Aviv remain suspended until 1 July (uncertain). Istanbul is therefore acting as a transit hub to reach several Levant destinations that European carriers have abandoned. The FCDO permits travel to Istanbul and major Turkish tourist areas, while advising against travel within 10km of the Syrian border. If you want to make the most of the disruption to discover Istanbul itself, our Pixidia Istanbul guide covers the essential neighbourhoods and best addresses.

For travellers whose connection to South-East Asia transits through the Middle East, three rerouting options avoid Iranian airspace entirely: via Istanbul (Turkish Airlines, fares up 30–50% on usual prices), via Helsinki with Finnair (polar route), or via Addis Ababa with Ethiopian Airlines.

Key points

• Istanbul is a destination in its own right: the Grand Bazaar, Hagia Sophia, the Bosphorus — an excellent substitute if your Middle East trip was cancelled.
• Turkish Airlines serves 18 Middle East destinations from Istanbul — the most comprehensive network of any carrier operating right now.
• The Istanbul–Tel Aviv route is targeted for 1 July 2026, but remains uncertain — monitor the ceasefire situation closely.

Dubai (reopened) and Cairo (stable) — two different propositions

According to Al Jazeera, UAE airspace was fully reopened on 3 May 2026. Emirates is operating at 96% of its global network (137 destinations, 72 countries). However, British Airways has not yet resumed its direct Dubai services, and the FCDO currently advises against all but essential travel to the UAE. As a result, Dubai is technically reachable via Emirates (connecting through Amsterdam or Frankfurt) or Etihad from Abu Dhabi. Bear in mind Dubai in summer means 40°C+ with high humidity — better suited to business travellers than tourists.

Egypt offers a different option. EgyptAir operates regular services between London Heathrow and Cairo, with fares from around £530 return for June 2026. Egypt is not directly part of the conflict, though tourism has suffered from a 34% drop in bookings due to regional fear. This creates a real opportunity: Luxor, Aswan and the Red Sea resorts are fully accessible and far less crowded than usual. The FCDO advises against travel to North Sinai but permits travel to Cairo, Luxor, Aswan and the Red Sea coast. See our Pixidia Egypt travel guide for circuit ideas from Cairo.

Key points

• For Dubai: airspace is open but British Airways is not resuming until end of May at the earliest. Option: connect via Amsterdam or Frankfurt to take Emirates directly.
• Egypt is the most accessible Middle East / North Africa destination: no restrictions on main tourist areas, regular flights, stable pricing.
• The Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM), open since 2025, houses over 5,000 artefacts from Tutankhamun’s collection — an unmissable visit.

Jet fuel at $1,840/tonne: the impact on your airfare

According to Euronews Travel, jet fuel prices rose from $750–$831 per tonne before the conflict to $1,800–$1,900 per tonne within weeks (record $1,840/t at Rotterdam on 3 April 2026). Fuel now represents around 45% of an airline’s operating costs, against the usual 25%. British Airways owner IAG has warned of a significantly higher fuel bill for 2026, translating directly into long-haul fare increases of 20–40%, with fuel surcharges reaching up to £270 on some routes.

The good news, confirmed on 8 May by Air Journal: the European Union has confirmed that airlines cannot add fuel supplements to tickets already purchased. Surcharges apply only to tickets issued after the announcement. UK261 provides the same protection for tickets departing from UK airports.

Key points

• If you bought a ticket for an alternative destination before 28 February 2026, no retroactive surcharge is legal under UK261 or EU261.
• For new bookings, compare fares inclusive of all taxes and surcharges on Skyscanner or Google Flights (select « show all fees »).
• Routes that avoid the Middle East (North Atlantic, Arctic route to Asia) have seen smaller price increases than Gulf-transiting routes.