Travel chaos as Dubai flights cancelled after Donald Trump bombs Iran
Irish holidaymakers heading to parts of the Middle East have been caught up in widespread travel disruption after Donald Trump launched airstrikes on Iran's nuclear facilities.
British Airways flights between London Heathrow - a key hub for Irish travellers - and popular destinations like Dubai and Doha were cancelled on Sunday, leaving many facing delays and uncertainty. The cancellations affected both outbound and return flights, the airline confirmed.
The move follows a dramatic escalation in Middle East tensions, with Trump announcing on his social media platform Truth Social that the US had carried out strikes on three Iranian nuclear sites: Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan.
Iran responded with retaliatory attacks on Israel, prompting the Israeli government to shut its airspace to all incoming and outgoing flights.
A British Airways flight from Heathrow to Dubai was forced to divert to Zurich, Switzerland, due to security concerns.
British Airways said in a statement, said: "As a result of recent events, we have adjusted our flight schedule to ensure the safety of our customers and crew, which is always our top priority. We are contacting our customers to advise them of their options while we work through this developing situation."
The airline typically flies three times a day between Heathrow and Dubai, and usually flies two times a day to Doha. More than 1,000 British Airways passengers were left stranded in Dubai due to the cancellations.
Meanwhile, Emirates flights from the UK to Dubai are running as normal, and departures from London Gatwick to both Doha and Dubai appear unaffected, according to the latest airport updates.
Irish travellers with layovers in the UK are advised to check with their airline before travelling.
Ireland's Department of Foreign Affairs has issued a travel alert, posting on their website: "The Embassy of Ireland, Abu Dhabi is closely monitoring the current regional situation and advises that Irish citizens exercise heightened caution. Please follow the instructions of local authorities. For further updates, please monitor the Embassy's social media channels on X, Instagram, and Facebook."
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