UAE Airlines Continue Flight Cancellations and Delays on August 5 Amid Ongoing Airspace Restrictions; EASA Advisory Extended to August 31

Several flights by Emirates, Etihad Airways, flydubai, and Air Arabia remained cancelled or delayed on August 5 as airlines continue to adjust schedules amid ongoing airspace restrictions and operational challenges linked to the regional security situation. While most flights continue to operate normally, passengers flying from the UAE are advised to check flight status before heading to the airport. The disruptions come as diplomatic efforts to ease tensions around the Strait of Hormuz gather pace, with Iran and Oman reporting that discussions on a new shipping framework for the strategic waterway are progressing positively and US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent saying there is a chance of a deal within days. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency has extended its Conflict Zone Information Bulletin until August 31, advising EU airlines not to operate in the airspace of the UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Qatar, as well as parts of the Gulf of Oman. The UK's Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office continues to advise travellers to monitor official updates before travelling to the Middle East. Airlines are following operational guidance linked to regional airspace restrictions and evolving security assessments. Several international carriers have also extended flight suspensions to destinations across the Gulf as they continue to assess the security situation. The partial normalization of flight operations reflects cautious optimism that the worst of the disruption may be easing, but full resumption depends on tangible progress in the US-Iran talks and a sustained reduction in kinetic incidents around the strait and across the region.