Amid escalating tensions in the Middle East following military confrontations between Israel and Iran, Middle Eastern airline Emirates has announced the resumption of its Dubai–Lagos–Dubai flight operations.
The airline confirmed that flights between Dubai and Lagos resumed on Friday, March 6, 2026. The route had been temporarily suspended last week due to widespread airspace disruptions caused by the intensifying conflict in the region.
Sources close to the airline’s operations revealed that the immediate goal of restarting the service is to transport stranded Nigerians in the United Arab Emirates back home.
Several Middle Eastern carriers had halted flights after multiple countries closed their airspace following coordinated strikes by the United States and Israel on Iranian targets.
U.S. President Donald Trump described the attacks as a major combat operation, prompting global airlines to reroute flights that normally pass through the busy Middle East aviation corridor.
The disruptions affected numerous long-haul routes connecting Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and North America, forcing airlines to quickly adjust schedules amid growing safety concerns.
The situation intensified after missiles were reportedly launched from Israel toward Iran, followed by retaliatory strikes by Iranian forces. As a result, airlines around the world began avoiding certain airspace corridors.
This led to the cancellation or diversion of several international flights, including services linking India, the United Kingdom, Europe, the Middle East, and North America.
After initially suspending its operations, Emirates said it was closely monitoring developments and maintaining communication with aviation authorities before deciding when it would be safe to resume flights. Passengers were advised to regularly check the airline’s travel updates and flight status pages before heading to the airport.
In a message sent to its trade partners in Nigeria, the airline confirmed the resumption of the Lagos route.
“We will be operating the Dubai–Lagos–Dubai flight (EK783 & EK784) on 6th March 2026,” the carrier stated.
The airline said the resumed flights would give passengers an opportunity to continue their travel plans after days of uncertainty caused by the crisis. It also encouraged travellers to secure seats quickly, warning that demand is expected to rise sharply.
While some flights resumed across the Gulf region on Friday, disruptions continued elsewhere. A Lufthansa aircraft bound for Saudi Arabia diverted to Cairo due to safety concerns, while a repatriation flight by Air France was forced to turn back after reports of missile activity.
The outbreak of hostilities involving the United States and Israel against Iran has triggered widespread flight cancellations across the Middle East, leaving thousands of passengers stranded and forcing airlines and governments to arrange emergency repatriation flights.
Many travellers have spent large sums trying to leave the region, with last-minute airport rushes, overland travel to alternative hubs, and in some cases fighter jets escorting commercial aircraft. Some passengers described the situation as “absolute chaos.”
With much of the region’s airspace still closed due to missile and drone threats, wealthy travellers have turned to private jets while charter flights and limited commercial services struggle to evacuate tens of thousands of people.
France’s Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot said the situation highlights the instability in the region and the challenges involved in repatriation efforts.
Meanwhile, Britain’s first repatriation flight from Oman landed at London Stansted Airport early Friday after delays, while similar operations were underway across Europe.
With the conflict showing no signs of easing, aviation disruptions are expected to continue. The European Union aviation regulator European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has extended its warning about the risks of flying over the region until March 11.
Despite the challenges, Emirates said it aims to restore “100 percent of its network” in the coming days. However, Lufthansa warned that the conflict creates uncertainty for the airline industry.
“The war in the Middle East proves once again how exposed air traffic is and how vulnerable it remains,” said Lufthansa CEO Carsten Spohr.
Air travel between Europe and the Asia-Pacific region has been particularly affected. Data from aviation analytics firm Cirium shows that Emirates, Qatar Airways and Etihad Airways normally transport about one-third of passengers traveling from Europe to Asia and more than half of those heading to Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific Islands.
At Dubai International Airport (DXB), normally the world’s busiest international hub, flight traffic nearly doubled compared to the previous day but still remained only about 25 percent of normal levels, according to flight-tracking service Flightradar24.
Etihad announced it would operate a limited schedule until March 19, serving about 70 destinations including London, Paris, Frankfurt, Delhi, New York and Toronto.
Emirates also said it is operating a reduced schedule to 82 destinations such as Sydney, Singapore and New York, with transit passengers in Dubai accepted only if their connecting flights are operating.
Meanwhile, the main hub in Doha remains closed, although authorities have arranged limited relief flights from Oman and Saudi Arabia. Airline flydubai also plans to resume flights from the UAE to Israel early next week.
Rising oil prices have added to the aviation sector’s challenges. Jet fuel costs have surged, with Singapore jet fuel hitting a record $225 per barrel this week due to fears of supply disruptions from Middle Eastern refineries.
Ratings agency Fitch Ratings warned that airlines could face financial pressure from higher fuel costs in addition to revenue losses from disrupted flights.