Picture for illustrative purposes only.
Travellers between Canada and Dubai will have to wait longer for Air Canada’s direct service, with the airline extending its suspension of flights to and from Dubai International Airport (DXB) until 2027.
Air Canada’s latest travel update said flights to and from Dubai would remain cancelled until the end of March 2027 because of the situation in the Middle East. The airline had previously planned to resume the route in mid-January.
Air Canada is among a number of international carriers that have delayed their return to Dubai following the regional disruption earlier this year. United Airlines has also pushed the return of its Newark-Dubai service into March 2027, while Finnair has cancelled its Helsinki-Dubai flights for the entire 2026-2027 winter season.
For passengers, the extended suspensions do not mean Dubai International has stopped operating normally.
Dubai Airports said DXB handled 31.5 million passengers in the first six months of 2026, with passenger numbers strengthening during the second quarter as airline capacity returned.
The issue for some foreign airlines is the cost and availability of insurance for operating in the region. Dubai Airports CEO Paul Griffiths said in July that some international carriers were having difficulty securing insurance for their operations.
The insurance market has become significantly more expensive for airlines operating in or around conflict-affected areas. The Financial Times reported that foreign airlines were facing additional war-risk insurance charges of about $70,000 to $150,000 per flight to the Middle East, although costs vary between carriers.
Griffiths has also said that Dubai Airports itself continues to operate at close to full capacity, with Emirates and other airlines maintaining services despite the regional disruption.
Which airlines are delaying their Dubai return?
Air Canada: Flights to and from Dubai remain cancelled until the end of March 2027. The airline is offering affected passengers options to rebook or change their destination without additional fees, subject to its applicable conditions.
United Airlines: The US carrier has pushed back its Newark-Dubai nonstop service to March 2027. United has told customers it looks forward to resuming the route and pointed passengers towards its Emirates partnership in the meantime.
Finnair: The Finnish airline has cancelled Helsinki-Dubai flights from October 25, 2026, until March 27, 2027, meaning the route will not operate during the entire winter season.
Luxair: Luxembourg’s national carrier has postponed its Dubai service until February 6, 2027, citing continued geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. Its planned Abu Dhabi service has also been deferred until the end of 2027.
Virgin Atlantic: The British airline says its daily London Heathrow-Dubai service will return for the winter 2027 season. In the meantime, travellers can use its partner airlines for journeys to Dubai.
Cathay Pacific: The Hong Kong carrier has also extended its Dubai suspension, with passenger services now cancelled through January 31, 2027. ICA/Expat Media
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