Heathrow and Gatwick Flights from Middle East Remain Largely Cancelled Amid Conflict
Flights from the Middle East to London's Heathrow and Gatwick airports are slowly resuming, but the vast majority remain cancelled as of Tuesday, March 3, 2026. Only four scheduled flights are set to bring stranded British nationals back to the UK today, highlighting the ongoing disruption caused by widespread airspace closures in the region.
Airline Operations and Flight Details
Emirates plans to operate two flights to Heathrow and one each to Gatwick and Manchester on Tuesday. Some of these flights will be operated by the airline's A380 jets, which can carry up to 615 passengers per aircraft. Typically, Emirates operates approximately 146 weekly flights to the UK, equivalent to about 21 flights per day.
Etihad Airways has scheduled one flight from Abu Dhabi to Heathrow on Tuesday, using a Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner with 336 passenger seats. This follows a flight from Abu Dhabi that landed at Heathrow's Terminal 4 on Monday evening, carrying stranded UK nationals.
In contrast, British Airways has cancelled its timetabled flights to Heathrow from Abu Dhabi, Amman, Bahrain, Doha, and Dubai on Tuesday. Virgin Atlantic has axed a flight from Dubai to Heathrow, and Qatar Airways has suspended operations due to the closure of Qatari airspace. A Qatar Airways spokesperson stated that operations will resume once Qatari airspace is safely reopened, with an update expected by March 4.
Impact of Conflict and Government Response
The conflict between Iran and the US and its allies has led to significant airspace closures across the Middle East, disrupting air travel for about half a million passengers daily who use hubs like Dubai, Doha, and Abu Dhabi. These airports are critical for travel between Europe and continents such as Asia and Australia. It is anticipated that clearing the backlog of passengers will take several days.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has emphasized that the government is "looking at all options to support our people" as the situation remains challenging. He advised British citizens in the region to register their presence with the Foreign Office for support and to monitor updated travel advice. Rapid deployment teams are being sent to the region to assist British nationals on the ground.
Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper indicated that 102,000 British nationals have registered their presence in the region, with an estimated total of about 300,000 British citizens in Gulf countries affected by the conflict. British nationals are urged to follow local authorities' instructions and stay updated on the Foreign Office's travel advice, which is expected to change rapidly.
Passenger Guidance and Future Outlook
Passengers are advised to monitor flight information through airline websites, such as Qatar Airways' official site, and to use mobile apps for updates. For those currently in Doha or needing booking assistance, visiting the airline's updates page is recommended. The government continues to work closely with the travel industry and regional governments to ensure the safe return of British nationals as swiftly as possible.
