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British Airways suspends Abu Dhabi route until end of next year, leaving Etihad as the only direct UK option

From the Newshound archive · first published 19 September 2026.

A British Airways Airbus A320. The airline has confirmed it will not resume Abu Dhabi flights for the entire 2026/27 winter season, with Bahrain remaining suspended until the end of March 2027.
A British Airways Airbus A320. The airline has confirmed it will not resume Abu Dhabi flights for the entire 2026/27 winter season, with Bahrain remaining suspended until the end of March 2027.

British Airways has confirmed it will not resume flights to Abu Dhabi for the entire 2026/27 winter season, with the route now not expected to restart until late next year. The airline grounded most of its Middle East services after the Iran war began in February and has been pushing back restart dates ever since. Etihad, flying from London Heathrow, is now the sole carrier offering direct UK-to-Abu Dhabi flights.

BA suspended most Middle East routes in February after the Iran war broke out, originally promising a July return.

Dubai flights are now set to restart on 3 November, Riyadh the same day, and Amman on 4 November — all far later than first promised.

Flights to Bahrain remain suspended until the end of March 2027, the longest delay of any BA Middle East route.

MoreThe IndependentThe one airline flying from UK to Abu Dhabi after BA suspends route againThe IndependentBritish Airways has suspended flights to this Middle East destination until next yearMetro.co.ukBritish Airways confirms suspended flight route won't resume for another year
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