Cathay Pacific Cancels Dubai and Riyadh Until January 31, 2027 — Third Extension Since Iran War Began — Air Canada to March 2027, Finnair to March 2027, Virgin Atlantic to October 2027 — British Airways Dubai Resumes November 3, Wizz Air October 24 — The Complete October 7, 2026 Middle East Flight Status Board for UK, Australian, Canadian and US Passengers

Cathay Pacific has extended the cancellation of all passenger flights to Dubai and Riyadh for the third time since the 2026 Iran conflict began — pushing its return date to January 31, 2027. The announcement, made on September 28, adds two full months to the previous November 30 deadline and signals that one of the world’s largest long-haul carriers sees no near-term resolution to the Middle East airspace crisis. Cathay is not alone. Air Canada has suspended Dubai and Tel Aviv flights until March 2027. Finnair has cancelled Dubai and Doha until March 27, 2027. Virgin Atlantic will not return to Dubai until October 2027. Meanwhile, a different group of carriers IS returning to Dubai this month — British Airways on November 3, Wizz Air on October 24, Lufthansa, SWISS, Singapore Airlines and Eurowings before year-end. This is your complete, verified, airline-by-airline Middle East flight status board as of October 7, 2026.

---

📊 PART 1: The Master Status Board — Every Airline, Every Date

The most comprehensive verified status board for Middle East flight suspensions and resumptions, current as of October 7, 2026:

Airlines Returning to Dubai/UAE in OCTOBER 2026

Airlines Returning to Dubai/UAE in NOVEMBER–DECEMBER 2026

Airlines NOT Returning to Dubai Until 2027

---

✈️ PART 2: Cathay Pacific — The Third Extension Explained

Cathay Pacific Airways has extended its suspension of passenger flights to the Middle East until the end of January next year, marking the third postponement since the US-Israel war on Iran began. The airline said on Monday that passenger services to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates and Riyadh in Saudi Arabia would remain cancelled through January 31, 2027.

The escalation of extensions tells the story precisely:

The extension comes after Washington recently rejected Tehran’s seven-day road map to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, prompting Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi to say his country was ready for a “doomsday” war with the US.

Cathay Pacific has adjusted its Middle East passenger schedule several times during 2026 as regional operating conditions changed. Current notices focus specifically on passenger operations to Dubai and Riyadh. Cathay said it would continue to review the resumption of freighter services to both cities while closely monitoring developments in the Middle East.

What This Means for Cathay Passengers

The waiver covers tickets for travel to, from, or through Dubai, Riyadh, and Doha that were issued on or before September 28. The original travel date must fall between September 28 and March 31, 2027. Passengers must change their tickets before March 31, 2027, and complete the new journey by May 31, 2027. Tickets to or from Dubai and Riyadh must be booked on a Cathay Pacific-operated flight.

In plain English: If you hold a Cathay Pacific ticket involving Dubai or Riyadh on any date through January 31, 2027 — your flight will not operate. You are entitled to:

• A full cash refund to your original payment method, OR
• A free rebook on any Cathay Pacific flight to an alternative destination within the waiver window
• Contact cathaypacific.com → Manage Booking to action either option

---

✈️ PART 3: Air Canada — Dubai and Tel Aviv to March 2027

Air Canada has suspended Dubai and Tel Aviv flights until March 2027. Air Canada initially suspended its Dubai services on March 2 following the outbreak of the US-Iran conflict.

Air Canada’s March 2027 deadline makes it one of the longest suspension windows of any non-Asian carrier. Air Canada, US-based United Airlines and the UK’s Virgin Atlantic are all slated to return in 2027.

What this means for Canadian passengers:

Canada has a large South Asian diaspora community — Toronto Pearson and Vancouver International both operate heavy services to Dubai as a transit hub for connections to India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. Air Canada’s March 2027 suspension means:

• Canadian passengers wanting to transit Dubai for South Asia must rebook via alternative hubs — London Heathrow, Frankfurt, Doha (Qatar Airways operations are ongoing), or Amsterdam
• The suspension covers Tel Aviv as well — Canadian passengers flying to Israel cannot use Air Canada until March 2027
• Under Canada’s APPR, Air Canada must offer full rebooking at no extra cost for all affected bookings

---

✈️ PART 4: Finnair — Dubai and Doha to March 27, 2027

Finnair has extended the suspension of flights to Dubai and Doha until March 27, 2027.

Finnair’s suspension affects UK, Australian and US passengers who use Helsinki as a transit hub for Middle Eastern connections — a popular routing for northern European travellers heading to Dubai and Doha for onward Asia connections. Finnair’s March 27 return date aligns it with the start of the 2027 summer season — suggesting the airline is waiting for summer 2027 slot clarity before committing to a return date.

---

✈️ PART 5: Virgin Atlantic — Dubai to October 2027

Virgin Atlantic flights to Dubai remain suspended until October 2027, with tickets for the resumed service to go on sale later this year.

Virgin Atlantic’s October 2027 return date is by far the longest suspension of any major UK or European carrier — a full 20 months from the initial March 2026 suspension. The airline is treating this as a full-season withdrawal rather than a temporary disruption. Virgin Atlantic’s direct London Heathrow-Dubai service is now planned to return for the winter 2027 season.

For UK passengers: Virgin Atlantic is offering bookings via its holiday subsidiary and through codeshare arrangements with Emirates. If you want to fly London–Dubai with Virgin Atlantic branding before October 2027, you are booking a Virgin Atlantic Holidays package that flies on Emirates metal.

---

✈️ PART 6: British Airways — Dubai November 3, Abu Dhabi Winter 2027-28

British Airways is taking a split approach — returning to Dubai quickly but abandoning Abu Dhabi for over a year.

All British Airways flights to Dubai International Airport are paused up to and including Tuesday November 3. The UK-based airline will initially operate a daily route to Dubai once its route is back up and running, with plans to increase services to twice daily during the summer season.

British Airways has removed Abu Dhabi from its schedule for an unusually long period, with the route not expected to resume until the winter 2027-28 season. The airline suspended Abu Dhabi flights earlier in 2026 as regional security conditions deteriorated.

Flights to Tel Aviv are scheduled to resume on October 25 with one daily service, while Riyadh flights will restart on November 3, also at one a day. Flights to Bahrain will remain suspended until the end of March 2027.

BA’s October-November return schedule:

---

✈️ PART 7: Wizz Air — Dubai October 24, Abu Dhabi Late October

Wizz Air has announced that it will resume flights to Dubai International Airport starting from Saturday October 24. Abu Dhabi services are expected to follow around the same period.

Wizz Air is one of the earliest major LCC to return to Dubai — its October 24 return date makes it available to UK and European budget travellers two full weeks before British Airways’ November 3 resumption. Wizz Air operates from London Luton, Gatwick, Doncaster Sheffield and multiple other UK regional airports to Dubai.

---

✈️ PART 8: United Airlines — Dubai to March 2027

In a statement, United Airlines has said that it is looking forward to resuming its nonstop flights between Newark Liberty International Airport and Dubai International Airport in March of next year. Customers affected by the cancellation of flights originally scheduled between October 24 2026 and March 27 2027 will be offered full refunds.

United’s Newark–Dubai nonstop is one of the most popular US–UAE routes for business travellers. Its March 2027 return aligns with the start of the 2027 summer schedule and the beginning of peak US–Gulf travel demand.

---

✈️ PART 9: Singapore Airlines — Dubai October 24

Singapore Airlines has extended the cancellation of its Singapore-Dubai flights, SQ494 and SQ495, until December 1. The flights were previously cancelled until October 24. It said other flights may also be affected as the situation remains fluid.

Note: This is a later update than Wizz Air’s timeline — Singapore Airlines has pushed its Dubai return to December 1 rather than October 24. Australian passengers who were planning to transit Dubai on Singapore Airlines connections need to be aware of this later resumption date.

---

🌍 PART 10: Market-by-Market Guide — What This Means for You

🇦🇺 Australian and New Zealand Travellers

Australia’s primary Dubai connections are through Emirates (still fully operating) and Qantas (operating via Singapore and via Doha). Cathay Pacific’s January 31 suspension directly affects Australian passengers who booked Hong Kong–Dubai itineraries as a two-stop routing to London or Europe.

Your best Dubai alternatives from Australia right now:

• Emirates: Still operating full schedule from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide
• Qatar Airways: Doha operations ongoing — check individual flight status
• Etihad: Abu Dhabi operations ongoing with some disruption (see our UAE flights article)
• Singapore Airlines: Dubai returns December 1 (pushed back from October 24)

🇬🇧 UK Travellers

This is the most important section for your UK readership. Three tiers of UK Dubai access right now:

Tier 1 — Flying NOW:

• Emirates: London Heathrow–Dubai, Manchester–Dubai, Birmingham–Dubai, Glasgow–Dubai — all fully operating

Tier 2 — Returning Soon:

• Wizz Air: London Luton–Dubai from October 24
• British Airways: London Heathrow–Dubai from November 3 (1x daily)

Tier 3 — Extended suspension:

• Virgin Atlantic: Not until October 2027
• British Airways Abu Dhabi: Not until winter 2027-28

UK passengers who want to fly to Dubai before November 3 should book Emirates or Wizz Air (from October 24). UK passengers who prefer BA should book from November 3 onwards.

🇨🇦 Canadian Travellers

Air Canada’s March 2027 suspension leaves Canadian passengers without a direct Toronto–Dubai or Vancouver–Dubai service for the next six months. The primary alternatives:

• Emirates: Toronto Pearson–Dubai via codeshare arrangements
• Qatar Airways: Toronto–Doha–onward connections
• WestJet: Check codeshare arrangements for Gulf connections

For Tel Aviv: Air Canada’s March 2027 suspension means Canadian passengers must seek El Al, Turkish Airlines or Lufthansa Group routings via European hubs.

🇺🇸 US Travellers

United Airlines’ March 2027 suspension removes the Newark–Dubai nonstop from the US market. American passengers wanting to fly to Dubai have:

• Emirates: JFK–Dubai, LAX–Dubai, Houston–Dubai, Washington Dulles–Dubai — all fully operating
• flydubai: Limited US connections via codeshare
• Qatar Airways: Multiple US gateways via Doha to onward Gulf connections

---

🛡️ PART 11: Passenger Rights — What You Are Owed

Key rule: Under US DOT rules (United Airlines), UK261 (Virgin Atlantic, British Airways for UK-departing flights), Canadian APPR (Air Canada) and Australian Consumer Law — if an airline cancels your flight, you are entitled to a full cash refund to your original payment method. You do not have to accept a travel voucher. The Middle East conflict is classified as extraordinary circumstances, limiting fixed compensation claims — but your refund right is unconditional.

---

📅 PART 12: The October–November 2026 Dubai Reopening Calendar

---

🔗 Related Articles

• Middle East Aviation Chaos October 7, 2026 — 1,692 Delays and 131 Cancellations — Doha, Riyadh, Jeddah, Bahrain, Jordan
• UAE Flights October 7, 2026 LIVE — Emirates, Etihad, flydubai, Air Arabia — Beirut, Erbil, Tel Aviv Cancelled
• Asia Aviation Chaos October 7, 2026 — 4,425 Delays and 274 Cancellations — Riyadh Worst Airport in Asia
• Kuwait Airport Transit Suspended October 2026 — DGCA Penalises Jazeera Airways — Every Connecting Passenger Must Read This
• Middle East UAE Airspace Chaos October 5, 2026 — Emirates Iran/Iraq/Jordan/Beirut Cancelled, EASA Warning October 31

🌐 Official Sources

• Cathay Pacific suspension notice — cathaypacific.com
• Gulf News — Middle East airline status — gulfnews.com
• Time Out Dubai — 17 airlines suspended — timeoutdubai.com
• The National News — airline status board — thenationalnews.com
• SCMP — Cathay Pacific January extension — scmp.com
• Arabian Business — Cathay suspension details — arabianbusiness.com
• RusTourismNews — Major airlines push to 2027 — rustourismnews.com
• Dubai Standard — Air Canada March 2027 — dubaistandard.com

Posted By : Vinay

As a lead contributor for Travel Tourister, Vinay is dedicated to serving our Tier 1 audience (US, UK, Canada, Australia). His mission is to deliver precise, fact-checked news and actionable, data-driven articles that empower readers to make informed decisions, minimize travel risks, and maximize their adventure without compromising safety or budget.