On Friday, September 18, 2026, air travel between the UAE and India experienced significant scheduling adjustments, with at least 11 flights between Dubai and Abu Dhabi and various Indian cities reporting changes or cancellations. While Dubai International Airport and Zayed International Airport in Abu Dhabi remain largely operational, aviation authorities and airlines have urged passengers to verify their flight status before departing for the airport due to a fluid regional aviation environment.
- At least 11 UAE-India flights saw schedule changes or cancellations on Friday, September 18, 2026.
- Both Dubai International Airport and Zayed International Airport remain largely operational.
- Passengers are urged to verify their flight status before departing for the airport.
At Dubai International Airport, several India-bound services saw timing revisions. Emirates flight EK539 to Ahmedabad moved from 6:10 am to 6:59 am; flydubai flight FZ446 to Mumbai changed from 7:05 am to 7:51 am; SpiceJet flight SG5118 to Kochi shifted from 3:15 am to 6:28 am; Air India Express flight IX615 to Tiruchirappalli moved from 8:25 am to 10:22 am; and SpiceJet flight SG9060 to Mumbai was adjusted from 11:00 am to 11:31 am.
The Kochi-bound SG5118 experienced the longest delay at 3 hours and 13 minutes, while the Tiruchirappalli-bound IX615 saw a 1-hour and 57-minute shift.
In Abu Dhabi, Zayed International Airport reported timing updates for flights including Ahmedabad-bound EY247, Bengaluru-bound EY233, Kochi-bound 3L128, Calicut-bound 3L201, Thiruvananthapuram-bound 3L134, and Hyderabad-bound IX971. Some Abu Dhabi services showed earlier departure times than originally scheduled, highlighting that these changes are not exclusively delays but operational re-timings. For example, Bengaluru-bound EY233 saw its scheduled 4:35 am departure move to 6:17 am IST.
Disruptions in the wider Middle East aviation network, affecting routes to Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Bahrain, have caused a ripple effect on India-bound aircraft and crew rotations. Officials emphasized that passengers should avoid relying on static ticket itineraries or third-party trackers, instead using official airline apps, SMS, email, or airport departure boards for final confirmation.
Travelers from Kochi, Tiruchirappalli, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Calicut, Thiruvananthapuram, and Hyderabad are particularly advised to exercise caution. Passengers are generally advised to arrive at Dubai airport at least three hours before departure, with flydubai travelers recommended to allow a four-hour buffer. Those with connecting flights to Europe or other Gulf nations are urged to confirm baggage transfer and terminal requirements with their airlines, especially if holding separate tickets, to mitigate risks associated with potential delays.
