18 major international airlines have confirmed their phased return dates to Dubai International Airport, with flights resuming from May through October 2026.
The full list of airlines returning to Dubai is now confirmed, and the timeline runs from this month all the way to October. The UAE General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) lifted all airspace restrictions on May 2, 2026, ending a two-month halt that started February 28 when conflict-related closures from the Iran situation triggered regional shutdowns. Eighteen international airlines have now set their official return dates to Dubai International Airport (DXB), with resumptions happening in waves. If you have upcoming travel or an existing booking, this is the schedule to save.
Airlines Returning to Dubai in May
Air France is the earliest major European carrier to return, with Dubai flights resuming from May 10 — though that date has since been nudged to May 20 per the airline’s latest update. Several other major carriers follow on May 31: British Airways, Cebu Pacific, Korean Air, Singapore Airlines, Royal Air Maroc, Air Astana, and carriers within the Lufthansa Group all have that same date penciled in.
Seven airlines on one date. That tells you everything about how much has been piling up.
The June and July Lineup
Pegasus is set to return on June 1. SunExpress follows on June 7. KLM updated its Dubai cancellation window to June 28 as of May 6, pushing the date slightly from its earlier June 22 target. Aegean Airlines has set June 29 as its Dubai return date. Cathay Pacific is cancelled through June 30, with service expected to resume from July 1.
July has one headline name: Finnair, with its Dubai resumption confirmed for July 3.
The Carriers Still Coming Later in 2026
The comeback calendar runs well past summer. Air Canada has cancelled all flights to Dubai until September 7. AirBaltic has suspended all scheduled flights to and from Dubai up to and including October 24. Eurowings carries the same date. Wizz Air has no Dubai flights listed until late October, though that date remains expected rather than confirmed.
Why the Dates Keep Changing
These timelines are real, but they are not fixed. Several carriers on this list have already revised their return dates more than once since February. KLM alone has updated its suspension window multiple times, moving from June 14 to June 22 and then to June 28 in the span of a few weeks. For European carriers specifically, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) Conflict Zone Information Bulletin — which restricts European-regulated airlines based on war-risk insurer assessments — has been a key factor pushing timelines. The bulletin has been under review since February 28 and remains active. Until EASA modifies or lifts the bulletin, European-regulated carriers cannot resume UAE flights, since their war-risk insurers follow EASA’s assessment.
Always check directly on your airline’s official website. If your travel falls close to any of these return dates, booking fully flexible tickets is the smart move right now.
What This Means for Dubai Travel
Dubai International Airport is one of the most important international hubs on the planet, and the two-month disruption affected global connectivity far outside the UAE, with ripple effects reaching every aviation market on earth. Emirates has been steadily restoring routes and is now serving destinations across Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas, with further expansion planned through June. Ticket prices are expected to ease as the eighteen rairlines returning to Dubai adding seats back to the market.
Full Return Schedule at a Glance
- May Air France — May 20 Cebu Pacific, Korean Air, Singapore Airlines, Royal Air Maroc, Lufthansa Group, British Airways, Air Astana — May 31
- June Pegasus — June 1 SunExpress — June 7 KLM — June 28 Aegean Airlines — June 29 Cathay Pacific — June 30
- July Finnair — July 3
- September – October Air Canada — September 7 AirBaltic — October 24 Eurowings — October 24 Wizz Air — Late October (expected)
The runway for airlines returning to Dubai to resume full schedules is shorter than it looked a month ago. Whether you are waiting on a specific carrier or planning travel for the second half of 2026, the dates are now public. Just keep checking your airline’s official page since the one thing this situation has proven is that the schedules keep moving until they do not.
Cover Image: AI-Generated for Illustration Purposes
