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Paddle Your Own Kanoo • Mateusz Maszczynski

Dubai airports partially resume limited flights from evening of March 2; Emirates cleared for 'exceptional' departures

Dubai International and Al Maktoum announced a partial resumption of a very small number of flights from the evening of March 2. Carriers, including Emirates, say passengers should only travel to airports if they have a confirmed departure time as operations remain tightly constrained.

2026-03-02T07:11:42.557399-08:00

Paddle Your Own Kanoo

Lufthansa ferries empty A380 from Abu Dhabi to Munich amid Gulf hub shutdown

2026-03-02T02:07:24.587077-08:00

The Guardian

Western Asia airspace shut after US–Israeli strike and Iranian retaliation, widespread suspensions strand crews and passengers

2026-02-28T16:36:23.967866-08:00

Paddle Your Own Kanoo

Etihad suspends Abu Dhabi flights, repositions fleet amid regional airspace closures

2026-03-01T09:35:32.847910-08:00

News Timeline

Paddle Your Own Kanoo

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Dubai airports partially resume limited flights from evening of March 2; Emirates cleared for 'exceptional' departures Dubai International and Al Maktoum announced a partial resumption of a very small number of flights from the evening of March 2. Carriers, including Emirates, say passengers should only travel to airports if they have a confirmed departure time as operations remain tightly constrained.

2026-03-02T07:11:42.557399-08:00

Dubai airports partially resume limited flights from evening of March 2; Emirates cleared for 'exceptional' departures

Paddle Your Own Kanoo

Lufthansa ferries empty A380 from Abu Dhabi to Munich amid Gulf hub shutdown Lufthansa operated an Airbus A380 from Abu Dhabi to Munich with no passengers onboard and only two pilots at the controls. The ferry flight came as Emirates, Etihad and Qatar Airways extended a near‑complete suspension of scheduled services through Persian Gulf hubs, leaving tens of thousands of travellers stranded.

2026-03-02T02:07:24.587077-08:00

Lufthansa ferries empty A380 from Abu Dhabi to Munich amid Gulf hub shutdown

ch-aviation

New Zealand funds 24/7 ATS at Ohakea, designates base as permanent widebody diversion alternate New Zealand has approved a NZD4.6 million (USD2.7 million) grant to Airways New Zealand to fund 24/7 air traffic services at RNZAF Base Ohakea, enabling the site to operate as a permanent widebody-diversion alternate. The funding secures continuous ATS to support long‑haul diversions and strengthen contingency for international flights.

2026-03-01T16:01:25.064819-08:00

New Zealand funds 24/7 ATS at Ohakea, designates base as permanent widebody diversion alternate

Paddle Your Own Kanoo

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Etihad suspends Abu Dhabi flights, repositions fleet amid regional airspace closures Etihad has suspended all flights to and from Abu Dhabi amid regional airspace closures and security tensions, grounding aircraft and repositioning at least three jets — including two A350‑1000s and a 787‑9 — back to Abu Dhabi from Istanbul, Muscat and Cairo ahead of a planned relaunch.

2026-03-01T09:35:32.847910-08:00

Etihad suspends Abu Dhabi flights, repositions fleet amid regional airspace closures

Paddle Your Own Kanoo

American flight from Philadelphia forced to turn back, becomes 16‑hour 'flight to nowhere' amid regional tensions An American Airlines departure from Philadelphia was forced to turn back mid‑journey amid regional tensions, producing a roughly 16‑hour "flight to nowhere" and leaving passengers delayed while the carrier and authorities managed the operational fallout. The incident underscores acute risks when airspace conditions change suddenly.

2026-03-01T03:22:19.082668-08:00

American flight from Philadelphia forced to turn back, becomes 16‑hour 'flight to nowhere' amid regional tensions

The Guardian

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Western Asia airspace shut after US–Israeli strike and Iranian retaliation, widespread suspensions strand crews and passengers On 28 February 2026 multiple Western Asian flight information regions — including airspace over Iran, Iraq, Syria, Israel and Gulf states — were closed after US–Israeli strikes and Iranian retaliation. Airlines and regulators suspended services, prompting emergency crew evacuations, thousands of stranded passengers (including ~115,000 Australians) and dozens of jets held overseas.

2026-02-28T16:36:23.967866-08:00

Western Asia airspace shut after US–Israeli strike and Iranian retaliation, widespread suspensions strand crews and passengers

AINonline

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Australia probes 5G interference risks to aircraft radio altimeters Australian aviation authorities have opened an inquiry into whether 5G mobile networks can interfere with aircraft radio altimeters, reviewing data from operators and manufacturers to assess operational safety and potential mitigation measures. The probe aims to clarify risks to approaches, landings and airspace procedures.

2026-02-28T16:27:10.020056-08:00

Australia probes 5G interference risks to aircraft radio altimeters

Paddle Your Own Kanoo

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Missile and drone strikes hit Gulf hubs — Dubai terminal damaged, four injured; widespread airspace closures and cancellations Iran-launched missiles and drones struck the UAE and neighbouring states on 28 February, damaging a terminal at Dubai International and facilities at Abu Dhabi and Kuwait; four airport workers were injured. Gulf airspace closures prompted mass flight cancellations as authorities assessed debris and damage.

2026-02-28T13:36:02.009015-08:00

Missile and drone strikes hit Gulf hubs — Dubai terminal damaged, four injured; widespread airspace closures and cancellations

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Dubai airports partially resume limited flights from evening of March 2; Emirates cleared for 'exceptional' departures

Lufthansa ferries empty A380 from Abu Dhabi to Munich amid Gulf hub shutdown

Western Asia airspace shut after US–Israeli strike and Iranian retaliation, widespread suspensions strand crews and passengers

Etihad suspends Abu Dhabi flights, repositions fleet amid regional airspace closures

News Timeline