The European full-service carrier’s surprise move comes amid its peers restoring flights to parts of the conflict-ridden region. However, the industry, in general, is in a wait and watch mode, with the announcement of United States’ fresh sanctions package against Tehran all set to heat up things further.
“Finnair flights between Helsinki and Dubai have been cancelled between October 25, 2026 and March 27, 2027,” the carrier said in a statement.
Since the conflict began in February, the carrier has suspended a significant portion of its Middle East operations.
Finnair has also avoided flying through the airspace of Iraq, Iran, Syria, or Israel.
With its latest decision, Finnair has now joined the ranks of Air Canada and Virgin Atlantic to delay their return to Dubai International Airport until 2027.
Despite operations continuing as normal at DXB, several foreign-based airlines are yet to return to the UAE.
However, Emirates and flydubai have continued their operations, with regional airlines like flynas, Qatar Airways, Saudia and Gulf Air also following similar patterns.
“Additionally, Indigo, Air India and Turkish Airlines all continue to operate routes to Dubai,” said Dubai Airports CEO Paul Griffiths recently.
“While the majority of major foreign long-haul operators intend to return to the emirate from the end of October as part of their winter schedules, Air Canada and Virgin Atlantic won’t return until 2027,” Griffiths remarked, adding that foreign carriers are finding it difficult to secure insurance allowing them to return to the region.
Finnair typically operates a seasonal route between Helsinki and Dubai. Air Canada, on the other hand, will not operate its Dubai route until mid-January 2027. The latter was supposed to return in October as part of its winter schedule but has now decided to delay the operations.
“The airline expects to return to the region in mid-January, and is also expected to resume its route to Tel Aviv around the same time,” Griffiths mentioned.
Virgin Atlantic, which typically operates a seasonal route between London Heathrow and Dubai, put a pause on its operations immediately after the Iran war began.
“The daily service between the two global travel hubs will return for the 2027 winter season,” stated the latest information on the Virgin Atlantic website.
While Virgin Atlantic’s year-round flights covering Dubai have remained available with its codeshare partner airlines like China Eastern, IndiGo and Kenya Airways, its joint venture partner airlines, KLM and Air France, are expected to resume flights to the DXB later this year.