Over 3,000 regional flights have been cancelled daily per Flightradar24, with UK airports hit hard as carriers like British Airways, Emirates, Qatar Airways, and Etihad ground most services. Heathrow reports the heaviest impact, with passengers urged to check airline updates.
This comes amid ongoing disruptions from the ongoing conflict in Iran and retaliatory attacks across the region, leading to dozens of cancellations at Heathrow, Gatwick, and Stansted. The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office advises against all but essential travel to affected areas.
Etihad Airways announced on March 6, 2026, that it would resume a limited commercial flight schedule until March 19, including services to and from Abu Dhabi and London Heathrow. Etihad’s limited schedule from March 6 includes London Heathrow among dozens of destinations like Dubai, Doha, Riyadh, and Jeddah, subject to airspace approvals and not daily. Affected passengers can rebook free until May 15 or request refunds online; do not head to airports without confirmation.
All flight cancellations Heathrow Cancellations (Friday, March 6)
More than 15 departures were scrapped, targeting Doha, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Amman by Qatar Airways, Emirates, British Airways, and Etihad.
- 8:05am – Doha (Qatar Airways)
- 8:30am – Doha (Qatar Airways)
- 8:40am – Doha (Qatar Airways)
- 8:50am – Abu Dhabi (Etihad Airways)
- 9:30am – Bahrain (Gulf Air)
- 10:45am – Dammam (Kuwait Airways)
- 12:00pm – Dubai (British Airways)
- 1:55pm – Abu Dhabi (Etihad Airways)
- 2:15pm – Doha (Qatar Airways)
- 2:40pm – Bahrain (British Airways)
- 3:30pm – Doha (Qatar Airways)
- 3:45pm – Kuwait (Kuwait Airways)
- 3:50pm – Dubai (Emirates)
- 4:10pm – Amman (British Airways)
- 6:55pm – Doha (Qatar Airways)
Some arrivals and departures to Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dubai persist but may change.
Gatwick and Stansted flight disruptions
Gatwick saw at least 12 cancellations, mainly Emirates, Qantas to Dubai, Qatar to Doha, and Wizz Air to Medina/Jeddah.
Gatwick
- 9:40am Dubai (Emirates/Qantas)
- 11:10am Doha (Qatar)
- 11:40am Dubai (Qantas/Emirates)
- 12:35pm Doha (Qatar)
- 1:35pm Dubai (Emirates/Qantas)
- 4:50pm Medina (Wizz)
- 5:00pm Jeddah (Wizz)
- 8:25pm Dubai (Emirates/Qantas)
Stansted
- 2:05pm Dubai (Emirates)
Advice for travellers
Check airline sites or apps like Flightradar24 before traveling, as schedules evolve rapidly. Airlines offer free changes or refunds for affected routes into late March. Government repatriation efforts continue, including from Oman.
