Dubai is gearing up for a busy winter travel season as several international airlines get ready to restart flights to Dubai International Airport (DXB). These carriers had paused or scaled back services following disruption in the region earlier this year.
While UAE airlines Emirates and flydubai have kept their international networks running throughout, some foreign carriers have taken a bit longer to return. Dubai Airports CEO Paul Griffiths previously said that difficulties securing insurance had made it harder for some international airlines to restart operations in the region.
Several airlines have now confirmed plans to resume Dubai services over the coming months, with dates ranging from September through December, though some schedules remain subject to ongoing operational and security assessments. Not every carrier is coming back this soon either, some airlines aren’t expected to return to Dubai until 2027.
12 Airlines Returning to Dubai
1. Aegean Airlines
Greek carrier Aegean Airlines is scheduled to resume its Dubai operations on Monday, October 19, 2026, just ahead of the winter travel period. The airline had already restarted services to Saudi Arabia back in May as part of its wider return to the region.
Anyone planning to fly between Greece and Dubai should double check the latest schedule before booking, since regional operations can still shift around a bit.
2. Air Astana
Kazakhstan’s Air Astana is set to restart flights between Almaty and Dubai on Thursday, October 1. The airline also plans to bring back its Astana-Dubai service on Friday, October 2.
The Almaty route is expected to grow from four flights a week initially up to 12 weekly flights by the end of October. The Astana service will start with three flights a week before ramping up to 10 weekly flights later in the month.
3. airBaltic
Latvian carrier airBaltic has suspended its scheduled Dubai services through Saturday, October 24, according to its latest booking information.
The airline normally flies direct to Dubai from Riga and Vilnius, giving travellers from Latvia and Lithuania a direct link to the UAE. Passengers should keep an eye on the latest booking information in case the return schedule changes.
4. Air France
Air France currently expects to resume its Dubai route on Saturday, September 19. That said, the French airline has been clear that the restart still depends on its ongoing assessment of the local security situation.
Since conditions in the region can shift quickly, Air France says any affected passengers will be contacted directly about their available travel options if their flights end up impacted.
5. British Airways
British Airways paused flights to Dubai International Airport along with services to several other destinations affected by the regional disruption. Its latest schedule points to a planned return to Dubai on Sunday, October 25.
Travellers with bookings around that resumption date should check their flight status before heading to the airport, since airline schedules can still shift depending on operational conditions.
6. Cathay Pacific
Hong Kong-based Cathay Pacific has indicated it plans to resume flights to and from Dubai from Tuesday, December 1, timing its return just ahead of the peak winter travel period.
Cathay Pacific has also offered some flexibility to affected passengers, including options to rebook, reroute, or get a refund. Eligible customers can shift their journeys to different dates, with rebooking available for travel up through March 31, 2027, according to the airline’s current guidance.
7. Eurowings
German low-cost carrier Eurowings plans to restart Dubai flights from Sunday, November 1, expected to run daily services from Berlin and four flights a week from Stuttgart.
From November 3, three weekly flights from Cologne/Bonn are also set to return. Eurowings, part of the Lufthansa Group, had suspended services to Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Amman back in March.
8. KLM
Dutch airline KLM has been keeping passengers regularly updated on its Middle East operations. Its latest travel information indicates the airline will not resume Dubai flights on Saturday, October 24, contrary to what was earlier expected.
Anyone flying KLM should rely on the airline’s most current flight information when planning a Dubai trip. The carrier continues monitoring the regional situation and updating its schedule as things develop.
9. Lufthansa
Lufthansa plans to restart its Dubai services on Sunday, October 25, with five weekly flights from Munich, followed by its Frankfurt-Dubai connection returning on Monday, October 26.
Other Lufthansa Group carriers are also expected to head back to the region. SWISS is scheduled to restart services from Zurich, while Austrian Airlines is expected to resume flights from Vienna.
Passengers affected by the earlier disruption can rebook for a later date without paying a change fee, or opt for a full refund, subject to the airline’s applicable conditions.
10. Philippine Airlines
Philippine Airlines has announced plans to resume its Manila-Dubai-Manila service on Friday, October 2.
The airline had pointed to concerns around critical infrastructure and overall airspace safety when explaining the disruption. Passengers flying around the restart date are advised to regularly check their individual flight status before heading to the airport.
11. Singapore Airlines
Singapore Airlines is planning to resume its SQ494 and SQ495 Singapore-Dubai services on Saturday, October 24.
The airline has warned that the regional situation remains fluid and that other flights could still be affected. It is worth checking the status of your specific booking before heading to Dubai International Airport.
12. Wizz Air
Hungarian low-cost carrier Wizz Air has announced plans to return to the UAE toward the end of October, bringing back services to both Dubai and Abu Dhabi and giving travellers more low-cost connections to European destinations.
Wizz Air is bringing back eight routes to and from the UAE, including a city served from both Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Bringing these services back should give UAE residents more options for European trips heading into the winter season.
Also Read: Dubai to Get Four Etihad Rail Stations: Here’s Where They Will Be
Dubai’s Winter Flight Schedule Takes Shape
As these international carriers return, they will gradually restore more connections at DXB ahead of the winter travel season. That said, the exact operating dates and frequencies can still shift, particularly for airlines that have made their schedules conditional on security and operational assessments.
Anyone with upcoming bookings should check their airline’s official flight-status page before travelling. This matters especially for flights scheduled right around an airline’s first day back, since schedules can still get adjusted around that window.