BA delays Gulf route restart again

British Airways has pushed back the return of flights to Dubai, Doha and Tel Aviv to August 1, extending disruption on three strategically important Middle East routes as airlines continue to adjust schedules around security risks, airspace limits and uneven demand across the region.

The one-month delay, shown on the carrier’s booking systems and reflected in its travel updates, affects passengers who had expected services to resume earlier in the summer. The airline said the continuing situation in the Middle East had forced further changes to its flying schedule, adding that affected customers were being contacted directly and offered alternative options.

The decision marks another setback for British Airways’ Middle East network, where operations have been repeatedly reshaped since conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran began in late February. The disruption has affected airspace access, insurance risk assessments, crew planning and aircraft deployment, forcing carriers to balance commercial demand with safety considerations.

British Airways, owned by International Airlines Group, had already signalled a leaner regional operation when services resume. The carrier plans to reduce flights to Dubai, Doha, Riyadh and Tel Aviv to one daily service, while Jeddah has been removed permanently from its network. Abu Dhabi, Amman, Bahrain, Doha, Dubai, Tel Aviv and Riyadh remain among the destinations covered by extended customer flexibility measures.

Passengers booked to travel to or from affected destinations up to October 31 are being offered refund options, even where flights have not yet been cancelled. Those travelling from June 2 may also move journeys to a later date on the same route or rebook through another British Airways destination, subject to fare differences.

Dubai and Doha are among the world’s most important long-haul aviation hubs, linking Europe with Asia, Africa and Australasia. Tel Aviv remains a higher-risk destination because of security conditions and recurring airspace restrictions around Israel and neighbouring territories. For British Airways, the delay reduces exposure to operational uncertainty but leaves passengers dependent on other carriers, indirect routings or partner airlines.

The wider aviation impact has been uneven. Gulf-based airlines have been rebuilding schedules as regional airports reopen capacity and airspace controls ease in phases. Qatar Airways has been restoring parts of its network from Doha, while Emirates and other UAE-based carriers have moved to rebuild services where permitted. Even so, capacity has remained below normal levels on some routes, with airlines continuing to adjust schedules at short notice.

The crisis has also affected profitability and operating costs. Longer routings around restricted airspace have increased fuel burn and crew hours on some Europe-Asia services, while sudden cancellations have added pressure to customer service teams and airport operations. Carriers have also had to account for war-risk insurance, aircraft positioning challenges and limits on available air corridors.

For passengers, the practical effect is a more fragile summer travel market on routes that normally carry strong business, leisure and transit traffic. Dubai draws high demand from the UK for tourism, trade and onward connections. Doha functions as a major transit hub for journeys to Asia, Africa and Australia. Tel Aviv traffic is more exposed to political and security developments, but it remains important for business, family travel and diplomatic links.

British Airways’ cautious stance contrasts with the strategy of some regional operators that are restoring flights more quickly from their home markets. That difference reflects geography as well as risk tolerance. Gulf carriers operate from hubs embedded in the region and have strong commercial incentives to rebuild networks, while European airlines must decide whether relatively limited point-to-point demand justifies the operational risk and complexity.

The move also underlines how air travel has become one of the most visible commercial indicators of geopolitical tension. Airlines tend to reinstate routes only when governments, insurers, airport authorities and internal safety teams are satisfied that operations can be maintained reliably. A published restart date can still change if security conditions deteriorate or airspace restrictions tighten again.