UAE Travel Update: Passengers Face Widespread Flight Disruptions as Etihad, Emirates, flydubai and Air Arabia Experience Delays, Schedule Changes and Cancellations, Prompting Travelers to Check Their Flight Status Before Heading to the Airport.
UAE Travel Alert: Etihad, Emirates, flydubai and Air Arabia Report Flight Disruptions.
Several flights experienced delays and cancellations on Sunday, while most UAE-based airlines continued operating close to their planned schedules. The disruption came as passenger numbers increased, creating heavier demand and potential challenges for travelers navigating busy airport operations across the region.
UAE Flight Disruptions: Latest Updates From Etihad, Emirates, flydubai and Air Arabia
Air travelers flying to or from the UAE faced a number of disruptions on Sunday, September 6, with several regional and international services recording delays or cancellations. While some flights were affected by operational issues and airport conditions, UAE-based airlines continued to maintain relatively stable operations across much of their networks.
Despite the ongoing tensions in the region, the country’s major carriers remained largely functional, with airlines continuing to operate flights and, in some cases, expanding their networks to accommodate sustained passenger demand. However, travelers were still advised to check the latest information with their airline before leaving for the airport, as schedules remained subject to change.
The latest information available for Sunday showed a mixture of delayed arrivals, postponed departures and cancelled services involving Etihad Airways, Emirates, flydubai and Air Arabia.
Etihad Airways
Etihad Airways recorded several delays involving both inbound and outbound flights on Sunday.
Among its arriving services, EY662 from Doha reached Abu Dhabi nearly an hour behind its scheduled arrival time. The delay was one of several affecting Etihad services during the day.
Another inbound flight, EY016 from Charlotte Douglas International Airport, was delayed by approximately 30 minutes. EY008 from Boston experienced a delay of around 52 minutes, while EY014 arriving from Atlanta was approximately 25 minutes behind schedule.
The airline also reported delays involving a number of outbound flights from Abu Dhabi.
EY100 to Lisbon was delayed by close to 20 minutes. Passengers booked on EY542 to Istanbul faced a delay of roughly 32 minutes, while EY078 to Manchester was held up for more than an hour.
A further delay affected EY858A to Sochi, which departed approximately 37 minutes later than originally planned.
One of Etihad’s services was cancelled altogether. EY475 to Jakarta, which had been scheduled to leave at 11:05pm UAE time on Sunday, was cancelled.
The combination of relatively short delays on several services and the cancellation of the Jakarta flight highlights the changing operational conditions faced by airlines and passengers. Travelers booked on Etihad services were therefore encouraged to monitor flight information closely, particularly when traveling on routes affected by wider regional or airport-related disruptions.
Emirates
Emirates also experienced disruption to a number of flights on Sunday, including significant delays on some international services.
One of the most notable delays involved EK076 from Paris, which arrived more than five hours later than scheduled. The lengthy delay was considerably greater than the disruptions recorded on several other Emirates services during the day.
Another affected service was EK398 to Bali, which was delayed by approximately one hour.
Travelers flying between Dubai and Jakarta also faced additional uncertainty. Services on this route were delayed or cancelled following the temporary closure of Soekarno-Hatta International Airport (CGK) in Indonesia.
The airport closure was linked to volcanic ash, creating operational difficulties for airlines serving Jakarta. Such conditions can have a knock-on effect across airline networks because aircraft and crew rotations may be disrupted when an airport becomes temporarily unavailable.
Passengers traveling between the UAE and Jakarta were therefore likely to face schedule changes depending on the status of the airport and individual airline operations.
Emirates passengers were advised to verify their flight details before traveling, particularly those booked on services connecting Dubai with Indonesia.
flydubai
flydubai also reported several changes to its flight schedule on Sunday, with both arrivals and departures affected.
On the arrivals side, FZ024 from Bahrain was cancelled. The cancellation was reflected in the carrier’s flight tracker and information provided by Dubai Airports.
Another inbound service, FZ1736 from Almaty, was delayed by more than an hour. Passengers arriving on FZ642 from Addis Ababa experienced a delay of more than 30 minutes.
A longer delay was recorded for FZ1716 from Minsk, which arrived more than two hours behind schedule.
The airline also had a cancellation among its outbound services. FZ023 from Dubai to Bahrain was cancelled on Sunday.
The disruptions affecting flydubai were varied, ranging from relatively short delays to cancellations and more substantial waiting times. Travelers were advised to check the latest status of their individual service rather than relying solely on the original timetable, as flight schedules can change during the day.
Air Arabia
Air Arabia reported a combination of cancellations and delays across services operating from Sharjah and Abu Dhabi.
Sharjah flights
Several Air Arabia services departing from Sharjah were affected.
G9107 to Bahrain was cancelled for both Sunday and Monday. However, other flights on the same route remained scheduled to operate normally.
Services G9101D, G9103 and G9105 were listed as scheduled to depart according to the latest available information.
There were also changes affecting flights between Sharjah and Kuwait. G9068 and G9124 to Kuwait were cancelled, while G9121 remained scheduled.
The differing status of individual flights underlines the importance of checking the specific flight number before traveling, particularly when multiple services operate between the same airports.
Abu Dhabi flights
Air Arabia’s Abu Dhabi operations also saw several delays.
3LO44 to Kathmandu was delayed by approximately 15 minutes. Another service, 3L715 to Tbilisi, experienced a delay of around 22 minutes.
The most significant delay among the listed Abu Dhabi departures affected 3L764 to Tashkent, which was held up for approximately one hour and 15 minutes.
Although these delays were generally shorter than some of those reported by other airlines, passengers were still encouraged to allow additional time for airport procedures and to monitor their flight status before departure.
Overall UAE flight situation
Sunday’s flight information showed that disruption was not uniform across the UAE aviation sector. Some services operated close to schedule, while others experienced delays ranging from a few minutes to several hours. A number of flights were also cancelled entirely.
The UAE’s major airlines nevertheless continued to maintain a high level of service despite the wider regional tensions and increased demand for air travel.
The situation also demonstrated how international developments can affect individual routes. The temporary closure of Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta International Airport because of volcanic ash, for example, resulted in delays and cancellations affecting flights between Dubai and Jakarta.
For passengers, the changing status of individual services means that checking a flight shortly before leaving for the airport is particularly important. A flight that appears to be operating normally earlier in the day can subsequently be delayed or cancelled because of operational, weather, airport or airspace-related circumstances.
Travelers should therefore rely on the latest updates provided by their airline and the relevant airport rather than assuming that the original departure or arrival time remains unchanged.
What passengers should know
Passengers traveling on Sunday, September 6, or connecting through UAE airports were encouraged to take several precautions because of the ongoing schedule changes.
First, travelers should check their individual flight number directly with the airline. This is especially important because disruption can affect one service on a route while another flight operating between the same destinations continues as scheduled.
Second, passengers should allow additional time when traveling to the airport. Delays and schedule changes can lead to increased congestion at check-in counters, security areas and departure gates, particularly during periods of strong travel demand.
Those connecting between international flights should also pay close attention to revised departure and arrival times. A delay on an inbound service can potentially affect onward connections, particularly when the connection window is short.
Passengers traveling to destinations affected by airport closures or other external circumstances should monitor updates closely. The situation at an overseas airport can change the operation of flights departing from the UAE, even when conditions at the UAE airport itself remain normal.
Flight-by-flight summary
The latest Sunday updates can be summarized as follows:
Etihad Airways
- EY662 from Doha was delayed by nearly one hour.
- EY016 from Charlotte Douglas was approximately 30 minutes late.
- EY008 from Boston was delayed by around 52 minutes.
- EY014 from Atlanta was delayed by approximately 25 minutes.
- EY100 to Lisbon was delayed by nearly 20 minutes.
- EY542 to Istanbul was delayed by around 32 minutes.
- EY078 to Manchester was delayed by more than one hour.
- EY858A to Sochi was delayed by approximately 37 minutes.
- EY475 to Jakarta was cancelled; it had been scheduled for 11:05pm UAE time.
Emirates
- EK076 from Paris was delayed by more than five hours.
- EK398 to Bali was delayed by approximately one hour.
- Dubai-Jakarta services were affected by delays and cancellations following the temporary closure of Soekarno-Hatta International Airport because of volcanic ash.
flydubai
- FZ024 from Bahrain was cancelled.
- FZ1736 from Almaty was delayed by more than one hour.
- FZ642 from Addis Ababa was delayed by more than 30 minutes.
- FZ1716 from Minsk was delayed by more than two hours.
- FZ023 to Bahrain was cancelled.
Air Arabia — Sharjah
- G9107 to Bahrain was cancelled on Sunday and Monday.
- G9101D, G9103 and G9105 remained scheduled.
- G9068 and G9124 to Kuwait were cancelled.
- G9121 remained scheduled.
Air Arabia — Abu Dhabi
- 3LO44 to Kathmandu was delayed by around 15 minutes.
- 3L715 to Tbilisi was delayed by approximately 22 minutes.
- 3L764 to Tashkent was delayed by around one hour and 15 minutes.
Travelers urged to check before departure
The latest updates indicate that UAE aviation operations remained broadly active, even though individual flights continued to experience disruption.
With passenger demand remaining strong and international developments affecting certain routes, flight schedules can change with limited notice. Delays and cancellations may also vary throughout the day as airlines adjust aircraft, crew and route operations.
Passengers should therefore check their flight status shortly before traveling and continue monitoring notifications from their airline. Those with connecting flights should pay particular attention to revised timings to avoid missing onward services.
While most UAE-based carriers continued operating a large proportion of their scheduled services, Sunday’s cancellations and delays show that travelers should remain prepared for last-minute changes.
The situation is particularly relevant for passengers traveling on routes involving airports experiencing temporary closures or other operational restrictions. In such cases, airlines may need to reschedule flights, cancel services or make other adjustments depending on conditions at the destination airport.
For passengers flying with Etihad Airways, Emirates, flydubai or Air Arabia, checking the latest airline and airport information remains the best way to confirm whether a particular flight is operating as planned.
International UAE Flight Disruptions
Additional International Flights Affected
Several other international carriers also recorded changes to their UAE flight schedules, with both arriving and departing services experiencing delays or cancellations. The disruptions affected flights connecting the UAE with destinations across South Asia, Central Asia, Russia, Iran and Saudi Arabia.
While some services were delayed by less than an hour, others faced significantly longer waiting times. At least one international arrival was cancelled altogether, adding to the list of schedule changes reported at UAE airports.
Arrivals into the UAE
Among the international flights affected on the arrival side was a Kam Air service from Khost.
Kam Air flight RQ965, operating from Khost to the UAE, was delayed by more than 30 minutes. Passengers on the service faced a wait beyond the originally scheduled arrival time as the flight experienced an operational delay.
Another international arrival experienced a more significant disruption.
Airblue flight PA430 from Lahore was cancelled. The cancellation affected passengers traveling from Pakistan to the UAE and represented one of the more serious disruptions among the international services listed for the day.
Travelers booked on cancelled services may have needed to contact the airline for information about alternative arrangements, rebooking options or revised travel plans.
The two affected arrivals illustrate the different forms of disruption passengers can encounter. While the Kam Air service eventually continued with a delay, the Airblue flight did not operate as scheduled.
Departures from the UAE
A number of international departures from the UAE also experienced delays.
The longest delay among the listed outbound flights involved Pobeda flight DP762, which was scheduled to operate to Makhachkala. The service was delayed by almost two hours, leaving passengers facing a substantially later departure than originally planned.
Another Russian carrier, UTair Aviation, also reported a delay. Flight UT734 to Grozny was running approximately one hour and 30 minutes behind schedule.
Passengers traveling to Iran were also affected. Varesh Airlines flight VRH6801 to Tehran was delayed by nearly one hour, adding to the number of international departures experiencing schedule changes.
A shorter delay was recorded on a Saudia service. Saudia Airlines flight SV570 to Jeddah departed approximately 18 minutes later than scheduled.
Although the delay to the Saudia service was relatively brief compared with some of the other affected flights, passengers were still advised to monitor their flight information because departure times can change during busy operating periods.
International Services See Mixed Disruptions
The additional international flight updates demonstrate that the disruption was not limited to UAE-based airlines. Foreign carriers operating routes to and from the country also experienced delays and cancellations.
The affected services covered a broad range of destinations. Khost and Lahore were among the cities affected on inbound routes, while outbound disruptions involved flights heading toward Makhachkala, Grozny, Tehran and Jeddah.
The duration of the delays varied considerably. Some passengers experienced relatively minor schedule changes of less than 20 minutes, while others faced delays approaching two hours. The cancellation of the Airblue flight from Lahore represented a complete interruption of the scheduled service.
For passengers, even relatively short delays can be important when they involve connecting flights, airport transfers or onward travel arrangements. Longer delays and cancellations can have an even greater impact, potentially requiring travelers to change connecting flights or make alternative arrangements.
Flights From South Asia
South Asian routes were among those affected by the latest flight changes.
Airblue PA430 from Lahore was cancelled, affecting passengers traveling between Pakistan and the UAE. Lahore is an important international connection for travelers heading to the UAE, and a cancellation can affect both business and leisure passengers as well as those traveling for family or personal reasons.
Meanwhile, Kam Air RQ965 from Khost arrived more than 30 minutes later than planned. Unlike the cancelled Airblue service, the Kam Air flight remained operational despite the delay.
Passengers on these routes were advised to confirm their individual flight status before traveling to the airport, particularly if they had onward connections after arriving in the UAE.
Delays Affect Russian Routes
Russian destinations also featured among the international routes experiencing disruption.
Pobeda flight DP762 to Makhachkala was delayed by nearly two hours. Such a lengthy delay can have a noticeable effect on passengers, especially those with scheduled connections or ground transportation waiting at the destination.
UTair Aviation flight UT734 to Grozny was also delayed, with the departure running approximately 90 minutes behind schedule.
Although the two flights were operated by different airlines and served different destinations, both experienced significant delays on the same day.
Passengers traveling on these routes were encouraged to keep track of updated departure information and listen for announcements at the airport in case gate or timing details changed.
Tehran Service Also Delayed
Travelers heading from the UAE to Iran were also affected by a delay.
Varesh Airlines flight VRH6801 to Tehran was delayed by almost one hour. The delay was shorter than those recorded for the two Russian-bound flights but still represented a noticeable change from the planned schedule.
Passengers on international routes are generally advised to arrive at the airport with sufficient time for check-in, security and immigration procedures, even when their flight has been delayed. Revised departure times can change again, and passengers should continue monitoring official updates rather than assuming that the original delay will remain unchanged.
Shorter Delay on Jeddah Route
The smallest delay among the listed international departures involved Saudia Airlines flight SV570 to Jeddah.
The service was delayed by approximately 18 minutes. While this was considerably shorter than the delays affecting the Pobeda and UTair services, it nevertheless meant that the flight did not operate precisely according to its original timetable.
For most passengers, a delay of this length is unlikely to cause major disruption. However, those with tight onward connections or scheduled transportation at their destination may still need to account for the additional travel time.
What Passengers Should Expect
The latest updates show that international flight operations involving the UAE can be affected in different ways. Some flights continue to operate but leave or arrive later than planned, while others may be cancelled entirely.
Travelers should therefore avoid relying solely on previously issued schedules when making their way to the airport. Airline flight trackers, airport information services and direct notifications from carriers are the most useful sources for confirming the current status of an individual service.
Passengers whose flights have been cancelled should contact their airline for information about rebooking or alternative travel arrangements. Those facing delays should continue checking for revised departure or arrival times, as schedules can be adjusted further during the day.
Travelers with connecting flights should be particularly cautious. Even a delay of 30 minutes can become important when the passenger has only a short connection window. Delays approaching one or two hours may require travelers to review their onward arrangements.
Summary of Additional International Flight Changes
The latest international flight updates can be summarized as follows:
Arrivals into the UAE:
- Kam Air RQ965 from Khost: delayed by more than 30 minutes.
- Airblue PA430 from Lahore: cancelled.
Departures from the UAE:
- Pobeda DP762 to Makhachkala: delayed by almost two hours.
- UTair Aviation UT734 to Grozny: delayed by approximately one hour and 30 minutes.
- Varesh Airlines VRH6801 to Tehran: delayed by nearly one hour.
- Saudia Airlines SV570 to Jeddah: delayed by approximately 18 minutes.
Overall, the additional disruptions affected a relatively small selection of international services but covered several important regional routes. The delays ranged from under 20 minutes to nearly two hours, while one inbound flight was cancelled.
Passengers traveling through UAE airports should continue to check their airline’s latest updates before setting out, particularly during periods when schedules are subject to change. Those with cancelled or significantly delayed services should contact their carrier directly to determine the available options and confirm any revised travel arrangements.
