Flydubai is set to begin a series of cargo flights from Dubai to Malé this Thursday, marking the first time the airline will operate cargo‑in‑cabin services to Velana International Airport. The move comes as supply chains across the Middle East face mounting pressure due to the ongoing regional conflict, prompting airlines and logistics operators to seek alternative methods to maintain cargo flow. Mohamed Firaq, Managing Director of Ace Aviation Services Maldives, Flydubai’s

Just days after the largest open US military airlift since the war began, diplomatic efforts to end the conflict collapsed on Sunday. High-stakes negotiations between American and Iranian officials in Islamabad ended without an agreement, leaving a fragile ceasefire on the brink and military options firmly back on the table . The breakdown came as open-source intelligence confirmed that a "transport corridor" of heavy US aircraft had been streaming from European bases toward

Gulf Air has restarted flight operations at Bahrain International Airport following the official reopening of Bahrain’s airspace, marking a key step in restoring normal aviation activity after weeks of disruption caused by regional geopolitical tensions. The resumption follows clearance from Bahrain Civil Aviation Affairs (CAA) under the Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunications, which lifted the temporary airspace closure implemented as a precaution amid escalating c

Qatar Airways has resumed flights to the Maldives after a temporary suspension introduced in response to escalating regional conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran, which triggered widespread airspace closures, rerouting measures, and heightened aviation security across parts of the Middle East. The carrier is currently operating up to five weekly flights to the Maldives, with the schedule in place through April 15, 2026, as it works to gradually restore full

Iraq has officially reopened its airspace to all commercial and international flights following a 40 day closure prompted by regional conflict, authorities confirmed. The move comes after a reported ceasefire between the United States and Iran, which helped stabilise conditions and significantly reduce risks to civil aviation operating in the region. In an official statement, the Iraqi Civil Aviation Authority announced that the reopening is effective immediately. Airlines ar

Bahrain has reopened its airspace following a brief precautionary closure implemented amid recent regional developments, the country’s Civil Aviation Affairs (CAA) announced on Wednesday. The Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunications confirmed that the temporary restriction was lifted after safety assessments were completed in coordination with relevant national and regional authorities. The CAA described the measure as a standard precaution taken to ensure the protec

A United States F‑35 Lightning II fighter jet was forced to make an emergency landing at a US air base in the Middle East after it was reportedly struck by suspected Iranian fire during a combat mission over Iran. According to US Central Command, the aircraft returned safely and the pilot is in stable condition, though the incident remains under investigation. The episode, if confirmed, would mark the first instance of Iran striking a U.S. aircraft since the conflict escalate

Five US Air Force refueling aircraft were damaged in an Iranian missile strike on Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia, according to a report published by The Wall Street Journal and cited by US officials. The incident marks one of the most direct hits on US military assets in the region in recent years, underscoring the escalating tension between Iran and US partners in the Middle East. The tankers were parked on the ground at the time of the strike and sustained structura

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

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

Qatar Airways has extended the suspension of all scheduled flights until 6 March, following the continued closure of Qatari airspace amid heightened regional tensions. The airline confirmed that it cannot operate any inbound or outbound services through Doha while the airspace remains restricted under the directive of the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority (QCAA). The suspension has brought all passenger and cargo movements at Hamad International Airport to a standstill, with air

Flight cancellations at Velana International Airport (VIA) are set to continue for a third consecutive day, with 18 inbound flights scheduled for tomorrow now cancelled as the Middle East conflict forces widespread airspace closures across the region. Photo: Dhauru News The disruptions primarily affect major Gulf carriers like Emirates, Qatar Airways, flydubai, Etihad Airways, flydubai, Air Arabia, and etc. The present‑day conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran

beOnd has introduced additional flights between the Maldives and three major European cities, Munich, Zurich and Milan this week, expanding capacity for guests whose travel plans have been affected by recent disruptions. The airline says the move is aimed at ensuring travellers have more options to return home or continue their journeys to the Maldives with minimal inconvenience. The extra flights supplement beOnd’s existing European network, which continues to operate normal

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

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,

Twelve inbound flights scheduled to arrive at Velana International Airport (VIA) on Sunday have been cancelled following a rapid escalation of conflict in the Middle East, which has triggered widespread airspace closures and operational suspensions across several Gulf states. The cancellations cover major Gulf and regional hubs, with twelve inbound services removed from Sunday’s schedule. The affected flights include two Etihad Airways services from Abu Dhabi, one Gulf Air fl

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