DUBAI- Emirates (EK) has temporarily removed six international routes from its August 2026 schedule from Dubai International Airport (DXB), reflecting continued operational challenges caused by regional airspace restrictions following the Iran conflict.
While services to cities including Algiers (ALG), Bahrain (BAH), Baghdad (BGW), and Basra (BSR) are scheduled to resume in September and October, Emirates (EK) has not announced restart dates for Tehran Imam Khomeini International Airport (IKA) in Iran and Damascus International Airport (DAM) in Syria.
Emirates Removes Six International Destinations
Emirates has experienced an unusually dynamic operating environment throughout 2026 as military tensions across the Middle East forced airlines to repeatedly adjust flight schedules and reroute aircraft.
According to scheduling data from aviation analytics company Cirium, Emirates will not operate six routes in August 2026 that were part of its network during the same month in 2025. Every affected service originates from the airline’s hub at Dubai International Airport (DXB).
Although most of these routes are expected to return over the coming months, two destinations remain suspended indefinitely due to ongoing security concerns, Simple Flying reported.
Baghdad Flights Resume in October with Airbus A350
Among the suspended destinations is Baghdad International Airport (BGW), where Emirates halted regular operations in mid-March 2026 amid escalating regional instability.
The airline briefly restored the route during May by operating three round-trip flights before suspending services once again.
Emirates is now scheduled to restart daily Dubai (DXB) to Baghdad (BGW) flights on October 1, 2026.
The route will continue to be operated exclusively by the Airbus A350, using both the airline’s 298-seat and 312-seat cabin configurations.
The Airbus A350 became the sole aircraft serving Baghdad from January 2026. Before that transition, Emirates deployed the aircraft on three of the seven weekly flights while Boeing 777 aircraft operated the remaining frequencies.
The airline has previously stated that deploying the Airbus A350 exclusively on the Baghdad route demonstrates its long-term commitment to Iraq and the wider Middle East market.
Three Suspended Routes Return During September
Before Baghdad resumes, Emirates plans to restore three other suspended routes during September.
Algiers Returns First
Flights between Dubai (DXB) and Houari Boumediene Airport (ALG) in Algiers will resume on September 1, 2026.
Like Baghdad, Emirates suspended regular operations to the Algerian capital in March before operating three temporary rotations during May.
The resumed service will be operated using the Boeing 777-300ER.
Bahrain Service Returns with Airbus A350
Another temporary omission from the August schedule is Bahrain International Airport (BAH).
Unlike several other suspended destinations, Bahrain continued receiving Emirates flights for much of 2026, with both Boeing 777 and Airbus A350 aircraft operating the route between January and July.
However, the airline has removed Bahrain from its August schedule before restoring service on September 1.
Following the restart, Emirates will operate the route exclusively with the Airbus A350.
Basra Flights Resume Five Times Weekly
Basra International Airport (BSR) is the third destination returning during September.
Regular flights ended in March, although Emirates operated two additional rotations during May.
Beginning September 2, 2026, the airline will restore five weekly flights between Dubai (DXB) and Basra (BSR).
These services will be operated using a combination of Boeing 777-200LR and Boeing 777-300ER aircraft.
Tehran and Damascus Remain Suspended
Not every suspended destination has a confirmed return date.
Flights between Dubai (DXB) and Tehran Imam Khomeini International Airport (IKA) remain suspended following the escalation of the 2026 Iran crisis.
Emirates has not operated scheduled passenger flights to Tehran since March 2026, and no restart timeline has been announced.
The airline also continues to suspend services to Damascus International Airport (DAM).
Unlike Tehran, the Damascus suspension predates this year’s regional conflict. Emirates ended flights to the Syrian capital in November 2025 after operating the route throughout August of that year.
The Dubai (DXB) to Damascus (DAM) route was previously served by the Boeing 777-200LR, but there is currently no indication of when operations may resume.
Operational Flexibility Remains Essential
The changes highlight how geopolitical developments continue to influence airline scheduling across the Middle East.
While Emirates has confirmed the return of four suspended destinations over September and October, operations to Tehran and Damascus remain dependent on future security conditions and regulatory approvals.
As regional airspace restrictions evolve, Emirates continues adjusting its network to maintain operational safety while gradually restoring services where conditions permit.
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