Dubai is currently navigating a delicate balancing act. Amid escalating tensions linked to the Iran conflict, Dubai authorities have officially restricted foreign airlines to just one daily rotation until
at least May 31, 2026. This capacity cap, communicated via official notices to carriers, is a direct response to the operational strain caused by the regional war.
While the move is intended to manage congested “safe corridors,” it has created an “uneven playing field,” according to the Federation of Indian Airlines (FIA). While home-grown UAE giants like Emirates and flydubai have managed to restore much of their network, Indian carriers like IndiGo, Air India, and SpiceJet (which traditionally dominate this route) are facing forced cancellations of hundreds of scheduled flights.
Dubai Flights: The Price Of Conflict
In addition to dealing with cancelled plans, for the average traveller, the most immediate impact is the cost of a new ticket. According to a report in Gulf News, travel demand, high jet fuel costs and limited flight capacity are pushing airfares sharply higher. It also mentioned that prices may stay elevated for months. As per the report, a return ticket from Dubai to Mumbai for travel this week is priced at Dh4,230 (INR 1,06,507) compared to Dh730 (INR18,380) less than 60 days ago.
This represents a staggering 480% increase on some routes. Long-haul flyers aren’t escaping the brunt either, with flights to London, New York, and Barcelona seeing similar surges as airlines grapple with fuel prices that have spiked over 130% month-on-month.
Can You Fly To Dubai?
If you have a booking between now and the end of May, there is no guarantee since the new schedule for flights has not yet been announced. However, Emirates has confirmed it is operating a limited “war-time” schedule across 100+ destinations but is offering significant flexibility:
Complimentary Changes: All new bookings from April 2 onwards include one free date change.
Refund Rights: Passengers with tickets for travel through May 31 can opt for a full refund if their flights are impacted.
Extended Rebooking: Travellers can rebook to the same destination (or another in the same region) for travel on or before June 15, 2026.
