LONDON: Several international airlines cautiously resumed a small number of flights from the United Arab Emirates on Monday, providing the first opportunity for travelers stranded by sweeping airspace closures to leave the country after the US and Israel bombarded Iran, and Iran struck back at targets across the Middle East.
The limited flight schedules followed days of near-total shutdowns at some of the world’s busiest aviation hubs. The disruptions have rippled far beyond the conflict zone, stranding tourists, business travelers, migrant workers and religious pilgrims across multiple continents and snarling global travel that relies heavily on Gulf airports.
Long-haul carriers Etihad Airways and Emirates, based in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, along with budget carrier FlyDubai, said they would operate select flights from the country, where air traffic was suspended Saturday and defense systems have intercepted Iranian missiles and drones.
Dubai’s government urged passengers to go to airports only if contacted directly, warning that operations remained limited. More than 90 percent of the scheduled flights from Dubai and more than half of those set to depart Abu Dhabi were still canceled, according to flight-tracking site FlightAware.
