British Airways confirms suspended flight route won’t resume for another year

| Senior Lifestyle Reporter Published September 16, 2026 4:10pm Updated September 16, 2026 4:10pm BA’s suspended route to Abu Dhabi isn’t resuming yet (Picture: Peter Nicholls/Getty Images) British Airways flies to more than 200 destinations around the globe, offering more than 500 different travel routes. However, passengers hoping to book a direct flight with the airline to Abu Dhabi currently cannot do so. BA suspended its round-trip flights to the capital of the UAE earlier this year, due to conflict in the Middle East and ‘airspace instability’. The plan was to restart the flights in winter this year; however, the airline has confirmed to Metro that this will no longer be happening. No direct routes are currently running from London to Abu Dhabi (Picture: Shutterstock / ArtEvent ET) BA says direct flights from London to Abu Dhabi now aren’t expected to resume until Winter 2027. Before then, those travelling to the region with BA will have to book a flight from Heathrow to Doha, then switch to Qatar Airways to continue their journey to Abu Dhabi. Flights to Doha run daily from London Heathrow, with prices starting from £300 for an economy ticket in September. The trip from Heathrow to Abu Dhabi with the connecting flight takes around 11 hours. Passengers can book connecting flights from Heathrow to Abu Dhabi via Doha with BA and Qatar Airways (Picture: Shutterstock / frantic00) And this isn’t the only BA route to the Middle East that isn’t currently running. Ask Metro Use AI to go deeper into the stories you care about – powered by Metro and trusted publications. The airline suspended direct flights to Amman in March, and that route isn’t scheduled to resume until November. Similarly, flights to Bahrain, Dubai, and Tel Aviv were also suspended earlier this year; however, flights are available to book with BA once again to these destinations for future dates. Direct flights to Bahrain will resume in March 2027, while connecting flights are available to book for Tel Aviv (via Athens and then switch to EL AL) from October. Dubai flights are also expected to recommence from November. One non-stop flight to Dubai will leave Heathrow per day, but there will also be connecting flights via Doha with Qatar Airways. In other travel news, European airline airBaltic has filed for bankruptcy. AirBaltic operates direct flights from London Gatwick to Riga, along with a seasonal twice-weekly route between Aberdeen and the Latvian capital. The Latvian airline is now the second carrier to file for bankruptcy as a result of financial difficulties, following the collapse of America’s Spirit Airlines in May. The good news for those with trips booked, though, is that flights are currently still operating as usual. And this comes after easyJet recently launched a new UK flight that ‘literally nobody needs’. The budget airline is now offering tickets between Manchester and Southampton, which covers around 170 miles each way and will be one of easyJet’s shortest routes (not including those between islands). Flights start on December 4, just in time for Christmas, and eco-conscious Brits have demanded to know why such a trip has been made available. ‘Nobody needs to fly between Manchester and Southampton,’ wrote Fiona Jade on X. ‘Literally nobody. There’s an hourly direct train!’ Aviation produces roughly 2.5% of the world’s carbon emissions, and is one of the most carbon-intensive forms of transport. Do you have a story you’d like to share? Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@metro.co.uk Our Top Shopping Picks Topman’s new-season collection has arrived and prices start at just £10 An Instagram mattress left me with back pain – this one completely changed my mind Book Val d'Isère, Val Thorens and Tignes for less in Club Med's ski sale Save 25% on red light therapy masks, sauna blankets and sleep gadgets in Bon Charge sale The viral LED face mask with over 350 lights that's currently discounted by £100 The Getaway Expert Your exclusive seven-day guide to travelling with confidence from Metro's resident travel expert, Alice Murphy.