Despite persisting tensions in the Gulf due to the conflict between the USA and Iran along the Strait of Hormuz, air transport in the Gulf seems to have return to normalcy.
The UAE General Civil Aviation Authority posted on Sunday, May 3, 2026 on social media (Facebook, X and Instagram) to be ” pleased to announce the full resumption of normal air navigation operations across UAE airspace. Following a comprehensive evaluation of operational and security conditions, we have officially lifted the temporary precautionary measures previously in place.
This decision was reached in close coordination with all relevant authorities. Our priority remains the safety of our skies, and we continue to maintain continuous, real-time monitoring to ensure the highest levels of aviation safety for all.“
Emirates announced marking a near-full return to operations, with 96% of its global network now restored, following a period of disruption. Following the resumption of its services, the airline operates now to 137 destinations across 72 countries, with over 1,300 weekly frequencies, representing 75% of pre-disruption capacity.
In Bahrain, Gulf Air has now returned to its main base of Manama International Airport.
The carrier will boost its network to a total of 50 destinations until June.
The largest number of flights is serving the Gulf region with 9 cities -including 5 destinations in Saudi Arabia. India and the Indian sub-continent follows with routes to 8 cities in India and 6 to the rest of the Indian sub-continent.
To Europe, Gulf Air currently flies to 8 destinations (Athens, Frankfurt, Istanbul, London LHR, Milan, Moscow, Munich and Paris CDG). From May 15, the airline will restart flights to Manchester and Rome, followed by Nice on May 23. In June, Gulf Air will fly again to Baku, Geneva, Larnaca, London Gatwick, Malaga and Tbilisi.
In Africa, the airline flies again to Cairo, Casablanca and Nairobi. El Alamein will join Gulf Air network in June. To Asia, the airline currently flies to Bangkok and Manila but will relaunch until June its flights to Singapore, Shanghai and Guangzhou. Finally, New York will be back on Gulf Air timetable with 3 frequencies starting June 1.
Kuwait Airways is also back at its home airport. Since April 26, the carrier resumes limited services from Kuwait International Airport (Terminal T4) in compliance with safety procedures.
Destinations operating from Kuwait are Istanbul and London Heathrow in Europe; Beirut, Cairo, Jeddah and Riyadh in Africa and the Middle-East; Mumbai, Thiruvananthapuram, Chennai, Cochin, Delhi as well as Colombo, Dhaka and Islamabad in the Indian sub-continent; and finally Guangzhou and Manila in Asia.
