The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has temporarily resumed flights to Abu Dhabi Airport after a three-day shutdown, with several airlines operating special flights to transport stranded passengers. The move comes as the region remains embroiled in a growing conflict between Iran and its neighbors.
United Arab Emirates-based airline Etihad Airways operated 18 flights on Tuesday, including one cargo plane and two international flights, to transport passengers to their destinations. The first flight, a cargo plane, took off at 10:52 a.m. bound for Hong Kong, followed by a passenger flight to London.
Other flights operated by Etihad included routes to Amsterdam, Munich, Karachi, Kochin, Islamabad, Mumbai, Moscow, Paris, Muscat, Bengaluru, Delhi, Jeddah, Dammam, Riyadh, and Cairo. The airline stated that these flights helped transport stranded passengers to their destinations.
In a separate statement, Emirates Airways announced that it had temporarily resumed its flight operations for limited flights. The airline stated that it would prioritize passengers who had previously booked their tickets, while also contacting passengers who had been transferred to specific flights.
Additionally, Indian Airlines Indigo and Lufthansa operated flights out of Abu Dhabi, with the UAE suspending flight operations until 2 p.m. on March 4. Emirates Airways is operating four flights to India between 9 p.m. and 10 p.m.
The conflict between Iran and its neighbors has sparked international concern, with the United States, Russia, and other countries issuing warnings and statements. The UAE has stated that it will not allow its airspace to be used for attacks on Iran, while Qatar’s foreign ministry has claimed that Iran did not notify them of planned missile attacks on their territory.
