Dubai and Middle East flights cancelled: KLM, Lufthansa, SWISS and Eurowings
Published: October 28, 2026 · Last updated: October 28, 2026
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European airlines are keeping their Dubai flights grounded for longer because of the situation in the Middle East. KLM has cancelled Amsterdam–Dubai for the whole winter season, until 27 March 2027, and the Lufthansa group has pushed its return to 25 November. If your flight is cancelled, you are owed a full refund or another flight; fixed compensation is usually not owed, because a decision taken for security reasons is generally an extraordinary circumstance.
Airkarma handles claims under EU Regulation 261/2004: flights departing from the EU, Iceland, Norway or Switzerland, and flights into those countries on a European airline. Flights departing from the United Kingdom fall under UK261, which we do not handle yet.
KLM: no Dubai flights until 27 March 2027
KLM said on 26 October that it will not fly between Amsterdam and Dubai during the 2026/2027 winter season, up to and including 27 March 2027, and that its flights to Riyadh and Dammam are cancelled up to and including 27 November 2026. KLM has changed these plans several times since the conflict began. Passengers whose flights are cancelled are notified, rebooked automatically on the first available flight, and can change the booking or ask for a refund under My Trip.
Lufthansa, SWISS and Eurowings: Dubai from 25 November at the earliest
The Lufthansa group had planned to fly to Dubai again from 25 October with Lufthansa and SWISS, and from 1 November with Eurowings. On 23 October it pushed the restart to 25 November 2026, citing the current situation in the Middle East and how it may develop. The airlines say they contact affected passengers directly, who can rebook free of charge or ask for a full refund.
Refund or another flight; compensation usually not owed
Whatever the reason for the cancellation, the airline must let you choose between a full refund within 7 days and another flight to your destination, at the earliest opportunity or on a later date that suits you. A refund covers the parts of the journey you did not fly and, if the trip no longer makes sense, the parts already flown with a flight back to your starting point. The fixed compensation of €600 for flights of this length is usually not owed: a cancellation decided because of a security risk in the region is generally treated as an extraordinary circumstance. A voucher replaces your money only if you agree to it.
Getting to Dubai another way
If you still want to travel, ask the airline to reroute you at the earliest opportunity. In our view, if its own network has no comparable flight soon, that can mean a seat on another airline. Keep your receipts if you have to wait: while you wait for a replacement flight at the airport, the airline owes you meals and, if needed, a hotel.
Flights from Dubai to Europe
EU rules cover every flight leaving the EU and flights into the EU operated by a European airline, so KLM, Lufthansa, SWISS and Eurowings flights from Dubai are covered too. Flights into the EU operated by an airline from outside it, such as Emirates or flydubai, are not covered by EU rules, even when you booked them through a European partner.
What to do now
If you have a booking to or from Dubai, Riyadh or Dammam with these airlines, check it in the airline's app and keep any email about a cancellation. Decide whether you want the refund or another flight, and ask for it in writing. If your flight was cancelled for a reason that has nothing to do with the security situation, or you were refused a refund, check your flight with us: it takes two minutes and costs nothing unless we win.
Frequently asked questions
My KLM flight to Dubai was cancelled. Am I owed €600?
Usually not: a cancellation decided because of a security risk in the region is generally an extraordinary circumstance. You are always owed a full refund or another flight.
Can I ask to be flown on another airline?
You can ask to be rerouted at the earliest opportunity. In our view, if the airline has no comparable flight of its own soon, that can mean a seat on another airline, at its cost.
My outbound flight is cancelled but my return is not. What happens to the return?
If the trip no longer makes sense, you can ask for a refund of the whole booking, including the return flight.
I booked a package holiday to Dubai. Who do I contact?
Your tour operator. Package travel rules give you their own rights, including a full refund when the trip cannot go ahead as booked.
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Official sources
The texts this page is based on: