The staggered restart dates mean European capacity to Dubai will remain constrained through much of September and October, with some airlines maintaining significant reductions well into the winter schedule.
The latest schedule updates show a cautious approach from European airlines, limiting options for travelers heading to the UAE and putting pressure on connecting itineraries.
Air France-KLM is taking different approaches across its network. Air France will resume its Dubai service on September 10, being the first European airline to fly again to the UAE. The carrier provides three weekly services.
However, KLM has taken a longer-term approach. Its flights to Dubai, Riyadh and Dammam remain suspended until October 24, although the airline has already restored its Tel Aviv service.
British Airways is expected to resume Dubai flights on October 24. Its Riyadh service will return earlier, on October 1, but with reduced frequencies. Abu Dhabi has been pushed back to January 2027, while Bahrain is unlikely to return before late March.
The Lufthansa Group will only restart Dubai flights in stages from late October.
Lufthansa will resume its Munich-Dubai service on October 25 with five weekly flights operated by an Airbus A350-900. The airline will also restart Frankfurt-Dubai on October 26 with four weekly flights, increasing to five from November 9. The Frankfurt route will be operated by an Airbus A340-300.
SWISS will resume Zurich-Dubai on October 27 with a daily Airbus A340-300 service. The aircraft will include a Premium Economy cabin with 21 seats.
Austrian Airlines will restart Vienna-Dubai on December 12, operating five weekly flights with an Airbus A320neo.
Leisure carrier Eurowings will return to Dubai from Berlin and Stuttgart on November 1 and from Cologne/Bonn on November 3.
Other European airlines are also holding back.
Aegean Airlines has suspended Dubai flights through October 23, while Wizz Air does not expect to serve Dubai or Abu Dhabi before October 24.
Finnair has taken an even longer view, with neither Dubai nor Doha expected to return before March 27, 2027.
Tags:Dubai European airlines
