Dubai News LIVE Today: The outbreak of the US-Israeli war against Iran has caused widespread flight cancellations across the Middle East, forcing airlines and governments to help stranded passengers, Reuters reports. Meanwhile, shares of airlines from New Zealand to Japan fell as the conflict pushes up fuel prices.
Currently, only two airports are partially open for limited operations: Dubai International Airport (DXB) and Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC). Dubai Airports handled more than 1,140 flights in the past 84 hours to help passengers reach their destinations amid the ongoing Iran-Israel conflict.
Travelers face steep costs to leave the region. Some passengers who departed Oman on a commercial flight on Thursday described flight navigation from Dubai as “absolute chaos”.
Etihad Airport
Etihad Airways has announced that it will resume a limited flight schedule from its main hub in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, from Friday.
The state-owned airline has operated a small number of flights in recent days, but the latest move suggests a gradual return to more regular services. Etihad said both previously booked passengers and new passengers will be allowed to fly provided all required security conditions are met.
The airline also revealed plans to operate flights to more than 70 destinations between Friday and March 19. Meanwhile, the Saudi Defense Ministry said it had destroyed another drone northeast of Riyadh.
News from Doha: Al Udeid base targeted
Qatar’s defense ministry said early Friday that it had intercepted a drone strike targeting Al Udeid Air Base, home to the US Central Command’s forward headquarters, the AP reported.
In Saudi Arabia, three ballistic missiles fired at the Prince Sultan Air Base, which is home to US forces, were intercepted and destroyed, according to a spokesman for the Saudi Ministry of Defense.
Air raid sirens went off in Bahrain, where the interior ministry said Iranian strikes had targeted two hotels and a residential building, although no casualties were reported. In Kuwait, where six US soldiers were killed on Sunday, the military said its air defenses were activated after missile and drone attacks violated the nation’s airspace, the AP reported.
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