Etihad Airways has announced that it will restart a limited commercial flight schedule from 6th to 19th March, restoring service to a select group of international destinations including Male’, Maldives as the airline begins a phased return to operations following regional airspace disruptions. Etihad confirmed that flights will operate only after extensive safety and security assessments carried out in coordination with relevant authorities. All other scheduled commercial se

Severe airspace restrictions across the Middle East have resulted in over 19,000 flight cancellations between 28 February and 6 March, marking one of the most significant aviation disruptions the region has experienced in recent years. The shutdown has affected operations at Dubai (DXB), Doha (DOH), Abu Dhabi (AUH), Sharjah (SHJ), Kuwait (KWI), Bahrain (BAH), and Dubai World Central (DWC), all of which serve as major transit hubs for global travel. The cancellations follow th

The UK Ministry of Defence has announced the deployment of four additional Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter jets to Qatar, expanding Britain’s air presence in the Gulf as regional security concerns intensify. The aircraft will support defensive operations across the region, reinforcing the UK’s commitment to safeguarding its citizens, partners, and strategic interests. These newly deployed Typhoons will join the UK–Qatar Joint Typhoon Squadron, which has been operating in the

Emirates has introduced a reduced flight schedule following the partial reopening of regional airspace, restoring more than 100 flights across March 5th and 6th while continuing to prioritize safety and operational stability. Maldives is included in the airline’s updated list of destinations now receiving limited service, appearing in the fifth and sixth groupings of the operating network. MaltaToday The airline confirms that it will operate a restricted schedule until furth

The Ministry of Defense of the State of Qatar has announced that the country came under attack at dawn today, confirming that ten drones and two cruise missiles were launched toward Qatari territory from the Islamic Republic of Iran. According to the ministry, Qatar’s air, naval, and air‑defense units responded immediately and successfully intercepted all incoming threats before they could reach populated areas or critical infrastructure. The ministry stated that the Qatar Em

Widespread airspace closures and ongoing conflict in the Middle East have pushed flight cancellations across several major regional hubs like Dubai (DXB), Doha (DOH), Abu Dhabi (AUH), Sharjah (SHJ), Kuwait (KWI), Bahrain (BAH), and Dubai World Central (DWC) to more than 9,500 flights. The scale of disruption means over 1.5 million passengers have now been affected, based on typical load factors for the airlines operating through these airports. The cancellations began escalat

Qatar Airways has announced that its flight operations will remain suspended until 3 March 2026, following the continued closure of Qatari airspace amid the escalating regional conflict. The airline confirmed that it will only resume services once the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority (QCAA) declares the airspace safe for civilian operations. The next official review is scheduled for 3 March at 09:00 Doha time (06:00 UTC), though the airline cautioned that this is a review point

The UAE Ministry of Defence has released a detailed assessment of the ongoing Iranian attack, confirming that the country’s air force and air defence units have intercepted 165 ballistic missiles, two cruise missiles, and 541 Iranian drones since the assault began on 28 February 2026. On the morning of the second day, UAE forces destroyed 20 ballistic missiles, while eight additional missiles fell into the sea. They also intercepted two cruise missiles and 311 drones. Despite

More than 3,400 flights were cancelled on Sunday across seven major Middle Eastern airports Dubai International (DXB), Hamad International in Doha (DOH), Zayed International in Abu Dhabi (AUH), Sharjah (SHJ), Kuwait (KWI), Bahrain (BAH), and Dubai World Central (DWC) as widespread airspace closures continue in the aftermath of US–Israel strikes on Iran. Flight-tracking data shows that the cancellations stem from the near‑total shutdown of regional airspace, with Iran, Iraq,

Major Gulf carriers have suspended all operations as unprecedented airspace closures sweep across the Middle East, following US-Israel strikes on Iran and subsequent retaliatory attacks. The shutdown has effectively severed some of the world’s busiest aviation corridors, grounding thousands of passengers across Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha. Emirates confirmed that all flights to and from Dubai are suspended until 15:00 UAE time on Monday, 2 March, citing “multiple regional airsp

Two private jet operations departing from Male’ were forced to return to Velana International Airport (VIA) today after widespread Middle East airspace closures disrupted their planned routes toward Europe and the Eastern Mediterranean. The disruptions follow escalating regional tensions triggered by Israeli strikes, which led several Gulf states to suspend flights and restrict airspace. A VistaJet private jet operating a charter service from Male’ to Košice, Slovakia, initia

A Flydubai flight FZ1026 operating flight from Male’ to Dubai is currently returning to the Maldives after a sudden wave of airspace closures across the Gulf region made entry into the UAE impossible. The aircraft, which departed Male’ earlier today, initiated a turn‑back while en route when multiple Gulf states suspended flights and restricted airspace in response to escalating regional military activity. Iran, UAE, Qatar, Kuwait and Bahrain enacted immediate airspace restri

Israel launched what it described as a pre‑emptive strike on Iran, prompting Iran, Israel and Iraq to close their airspace and triggering major disruption across key aviation corridors. Explosions were reported in Tehran and several other Iranian cities following the strikes, with Iranian state media acknowledging multiple blasts. Iran’s Civil Aviation Organisation issued a NOTAM closing the entire Iranian airspace until further notice, forcing all overflying traffic to exit

Bullet holes were discovered on the wing of an American Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 8 after the aircraft arrived in Miami from Colombia, according to reports. Flight AA923 landed safely at Miami International Airport on Monday following its scheduled service from Bogotá. During a routine post‑flight inspection, maintenance personnel identified puncture marks on the aircraft’s right aileron. American Airlines confirmed the discovery and said the aircraft was taken out of service i

An EL AL flight preparing to depart Los Angeles for Tel Aviv faced an unexpected disruption when ground staff discovered that a large number of checked bags had been covered with stickers shortly before departure. The incident, which occurred on February 16 at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), forced the airline to halt loading operations and initiate a full security response. According to airport staff, the discovery was made after the bags had already been placed ins

StarSky Aviation has commended the flight crew of a Fokker 50 after the aircraft conducted a forced landing along the Mogadishu coastline following a reported technical malfunction shortly after departure. All 55 people on board, 50 passengers and five crew members survived the incident without injuries. The aircraft, a Fokker 50 registered 6O‑YAS, had taken off from Aden Adde International Airport on a scheduled flight to Djibouti when the crew encountered a technical issue

Apogee Aerospace Pvt. Ltd. has placed a landmark USD 435 million order for 15 Albatross 2.0 amphibious aircraft from Australia’s Amphibian Aerospace Industries (AAI), marking one of the most significant commercial commitments yet in India’s emerging amphibious aviation sector. Beyond the aircraft acquisition, the agreement outlines a broader industrial partnership that could see a final assembly line for the Albatross series established in India, positioning the country as a

Greater Bay Airlines of Hong Kong has begun charter operations to the Maldives, marking another expansion of the country’s air connectivity with East Asia. The airline’s inaugural service, flight HB2500, arrived at Velana International Airport yesterday, where it was welcomed with a traditional water salute. A total of 174 passengers travelled on the first flight. Greater Bay Airlines will operate direct charter flights between Hong Kong and Malé using the Boeing 737 MAX, add

Airbus is considering a stretched version of the A350 after Boeing indicated it was prepared to develop a larger 777X, with Emirates now saying it would look at the proposed Airbus variant if it is launched. In November, Airbus executives said the manufacturer was looking at a possible stretch of the A350 following Boeing’s move to discuss a higher‑capacity 777X as part of a major order campaign. At the time, Airbus framed the idea as part of its long‑term product planning, w

A FedEx Airbus A300‑600F experienced a nose‑landing‑gear collapse on Wednesday while parked outside the company’s maintenance facility in Baltimore. The aircraft was undergoing maintenance at the time of the event. Airport fire and rescue teams responded after the aircraft’s nose gear unexpectedly gave way, causing the forward fuselage to settle onto the apron. The aircraft was stationary, and the situation remained contained to the FedEx maintenance area. There were no opera