Dozens more flights from Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted to the Middle East have been cancelled on Thursday as the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office warns against “all but essential travel” to parts of the region.
The disruption follows the US and Israeli strikes on Iran over the weekend, and ongoing retaliatory attacks from Iran in response on countries across the region, including Bahrain, Qatar, UAE, Kuwait, Lebanon, and Jordan throughout the week.
Major carriers including British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, Emirates, and Qatar Airways have grounded the vast majority of services - but a limited amount of flights in and out of Dubai International and Al Maktoum International airports are now taking place.
The UK government chartered a repatriation flight from Oman on Wednesday night to help British nationals who want to leave the region, but it did not take off as planned on due to a technical issue.
The first flight specifically arranged by the UK government is now scheduled to leave Muscat International Airport today instead, with those who were due to be on the flight given a free overnight hotel by the UK government.
More than 3,000 flights a day across the region have been cancelled according to flight tracking service Flightradar24.
Wider long-haul routes have been affected due to airspace closures across the region. UK airports are urging passengers to check with their airline before travelling to the airport.
At Heathrow, a total of 27 flights are already cancelled on Thursday - however, as of 7.30am, 15 flights to the region remain on the schedule.
The vast majority of the region’s flights to Heathrow have also been cancelled, but there are still 12 arrivals expected as of 7.30am, including four from Dubai and one from Abu Dhabi.
A statement from Heathrow reads: “Due to the ongoing situation in the Middle East and resulting airspace closures in the region, a small number of flights at Heathrow have been cancelled or delayed. Passengers are advised to check with their airlines for the latest information on their flight.”
At Gatwick, a number of Emirates, Qatar Airways and Wizz Air flights remain grounded, with just three arrivals from Dubai still scheduled as of 7.30am.
Stansted’s one scheduled service to Dubai has also been cancelled.
Services to some cities in the region remain unaffected, with EasyJet flights to destinations including Sharm El Sheikh and Hurghada still in operation.
List of cancelled departures from Heathrow Airport
8.50am - Abu Dhabi (Etihad Airways)
9.30am - Bahrain (Gulf Air)
10.25am - Doha (Qatar Airways)
11.00am - Doha (Qatar Airways)
12pm - Doha (Qatar Airways)
1.55pm - Abu Dhabi (Etihad Airways)
2.15pm - Doha (Qatar Airways)
2.20pm - Tel Aviv (El Al)
3.30pm - Doha (Qatar Airways)
3.45pm - Kuwait (Kuwait Airways)
3.50pm - Dubai (Emirates)
4.10pm - Larnaca (British Airways)
4.20pm - Amman (British Airways)
5.50pm - Tel Aviv (El Al)
6.55pm - Doha (Qatar Airways)
7pm - Dubai (Emirates)
7.20pm - Abu Dhabi (Etihad Airways)
7.20pm - Doha (British Airways)
8.20pm - Tel Aviv (British Airways)
8.30pm - Dubai (British Airways)
9.20pm - Dubai (Emirates)
9.30pm - Doha (Qatar Airways)
9.35pm - Dubai (British Airways)
9.50pm - Bahrain (Gulf Air)
10pm - Dubai (Emirates)
10.10pm - Abu Dhabi (British Airways)
10.10pm - Tel Aviv (El Al)
Flights still scheduled from Heathrow Airport (as of 7.30am)
9.30am - Riyadh (Riyadh Air)
12.10pm - Beirut (MEA)
1.25pm - Riyadh (British Airways)
1.40pm - Dubai (Emirates)
2.15pm - Jeddah (Saudia)
3.50pm - Riyadh (Virgin Atlantic)
4.05pm - Amman (Royal Jordanian)
4.15pm - Riyadh (Saudia)
6.50pm - Riyadh (Saudia)
8.15pm - Riyadh (British Airways)
8.20pm - Dubai (Emirates)
8.20pm - Jeddah (British Airways)
8.55pm - Abu Dhabi (Etihad Airways)
10.05pm - Jeddah (Saudia)
10.10pm - Dubai (Virgin Atlantic)
Flights scheduled to land at Heathrow Airport (as of 7.30am)
7.10am - Dubai (Emirates)
7.30am - Riyadh (Riyadh Air)
10.45am - Beirut (MEA)
11.40am - Dubai (Emirates)
12.15pm - Jeddah (Saudia)
2.15pm - Riyadh (Saudia)
2.45pm - Amman (Royal Jordanian)
3.20pm - Dubai (Virgin Atlantic)
5.10pm - Riyadh (Saudia)
6.20pm - Dubai (Emirates)
7.00pm -Abu Dhabi (Etihad Airways)
8.20pm - Dammam (Saudia)
List of cancelled departures from Gatwick Airport
9.40am - Dubai (Emirates)
9.40am - Dubai (Qantas)
11.10am - Doha (Qatar Airways)
1.35pm - Dubai (Emirates)
1.35pm - Dubai (Qantas)
4.50pm - Medina (Wizz Air)
5.00pm - Jeddah (Wizz Air)
8.25pm - Dubai (Emirates)
8.25pm - Dubai (Qantas)
Flight scheduled to land at Gatwick Airport (as of 7.30am)
3.35pm - Dubai (Emirates)
6.25pm - Dubai (Emirates)
6.25pm - Dubai (Qantas)
List of cancelled departures from Stansted Airport
2.05pm - Dubai (Emirates)
A British Airways statement read: “We are closely monitoring the situation and have cancelled a number of our flights to the Middle East. Safety is always our top priority and we would never operate a flight unless it was safe to do so.
“If you are due to fly between London Heathrow and Abu Dhabi, Amman, Bahrain, Doha, Dubai or Tel Aviv you can change your flight free of charge up to and including 29 March. Customers travelling up to and including 4 March may also request a full refund.”
The suspension of flights comes as the conflict in the region has continued to widen, as the war in the Middle East enters a sixth day.
Israel announced multiple incoming missile attacks this morning as air sirens sounded in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, while Iranian state TV said additional strikes also targeted US bases.
Meanwhile, Israel says it has launched a “large-scale wave of strikes against infrastructure” in Tehran, and has also fired missiles in Lebanon targeting the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militant group.
More than 1,000 civilians have been killed in Iran since February 28, according to US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), including 181 children under the age of 10 years old.
