British Airways Suspends Six Middle East Routes From Heathrow

British Airways has suspended six major routes from London Heathrow Airport (LHR) due to the ongoing war in Iran, which has significantly impacted aviation across the Middle East. The suspended routes include flights to Abu Dhabi, Amman, Bahrain, Dubai, Riyadh, and Tel Aviv. Most of these routes are expected to resume by late October or early November, aligning with the airline's winter schedule adjustments based on IATA slot seasons.

The suspended routes were last served between late February and early May 2026. For instance, flights to Abu Dhabi were last operated on March 2, 2026, with an expected return in winter 2027/2028. Amman and Tel Aviv are set to resume services on November 4 and October 25, 2026, respectively. Bahrain's route, suspended since February 26, 2026, is scheduled to return on March 28, 2027. Dubai and Riyadh flights are due to restart on November 3, 2026.

British Airways' planned operations for these routes vary. For example, the Dubai route will initially operate daily with a Boeing 787-10, increasing to two daily services using Boeing 777-200ER aircraft by March 28, 2027. The Airbus A380 is no longer scheduled but could return next winter. Riyadh will see daily operations primarily using the Boeing 787-10, with the frequency halving from March 28, 2027.

The list of suspended routes does not include Doha, Qatar, where British Airways has maintained a strong presence. The airline resumed flights to Doha on September 1, 2026, after a hiatus since February. The frequency is set to double to two daily services by March 28, 2027, aligning with peak connectivity times for Qatar Airways. Overall, British Airways' Middle East flights are down by 59% due to the current suspensions.