Emirates will resume daily flights to Baghdad, Iraq, starting February 1, 2025. The Dubai airline and several others had suspended flights to these cities due to ongoing geopolitical tensions.
Dubai: Emirates, the flagship airline of Dubai, has announced plans to resume flights to Beirut, Lebanon, beginning February 1, 2025. The airline will also reinstate daily services to Baghdad, Iraq, on the same date.
Starting in February, Emirates will operate daily flights to Rafic Al Hariri International Airport using a Boeing 777-300ER in three classes, providing over 5,000 seats each week in both directions.
Additionally, from April 1, the airline will enhance its operations by adding a second daily flight to Beirut with the EK957/958 morning service, also operated by a Boeing 777-300ER in three classes.
Increased Flight Resumptions
Emirates and most UAE airlines had suspended flights to Lebanon and Iraq due to rising security concerns stemming from the ongoing Israel-Gaza conflict.
Air Arabia was among the first to restart its direct daily flights from Sharjah to Beirut on December 18, followed by Air Arabia Abu Dhabi, which resumed operations from Abu Dhabi to Beirut on January 9.
The airline operates four weekly non-stop flights between Zayed International Airport and Beirut-Rafic Hariri International Airport every Monday, Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday.
Qatar Airways, another major carrier in the region, had temporarily suspended services to Lebanon, Iran, and Iraq due to regional unrest but resumed operations on December 9 with 14 weekly flights to Hamad International Airport in Doha.
Etihad Airways also reinstated its daily non-stop flights between Abu Dhabi and Beirut-Rafic Hariri International Airport late last year.
The Israel-Gaza conflict intensified dramatically in October 2023 when Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel, leading to numerous civilian and military casualties and abductions. In response, Israel declared war, initiating airstrikes on Gaza and enforcing a blockade targeting Hamas infrastructure, which resulted in significant civilian casualties and displacement. Shortly thereafter, Hezbollah militants began attacking Israel in solidarity with Gaza, resulting in the suspension of most international flights to the region. By November, a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hezbollah brought an end to the hostilities.
Several European airlines have yet to resume their operations. The Lufthansa Group, which includes Lufthansa Airlines, Swiss, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, and ITA Airways, plans to restart flights to Tel Aviv on February 1.
However, the previously announced suspension of Lufthansa Group flights to and from Tehran will remain in effect until February 14, according to a statement from the Group. Additionally, Lufthansa Group Airlines will not operate flights to Beirut until February 28.
Cautious Return
Following the fall of the Assad regime in Syria, Turkish Airlines announced it would begin flights to Damascus, the capital, starting January 23, with three flights each week.
However, airlines remain cautious and vigilant before fully re-entering the region. British carrier EasyJet expressed to Reuters that it welcomed the news of the Gaza ceasefire and would assess its plans in the coming days.
