KLM has extended its flight suspensions to Dubai and Saudi Arabia due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, the airline announced on Tuesday. The carrier will not operate flights to Dubai until at least 2 August, pushing back the resumption from the previously planned date of 28 June. Similarly, services to the Saudi capital of Riyadh and the city of Dammam will remain grounded until at least 12 July. The airline originally suspended these routes on 1 March following the outbreak of hostilities and subsequent regional infrastructure attacks.
The extended cancellations form part of a broader strategy to ensure the safety of passengers and crew as geopolitical unrest persists. KLM confirmed it is currently avoiding the airspace of Iran, Iraq, and Israel, alongside several areas over the Gulf region. The airline operates in close coordination with the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs to monitor the safety of the region before committing to any resumption of regular schedules.
Financial strain and industry impacts
The prolonged airspace closures are forcing international airlines to reroute flights, which adds significant flight time and drives up fuel consumption. These detours come at a time when rising kerosene costs are already squeezing airline profit margins. The grounding of these high-traffic routes also creates a massive logistical headache for summer travellers. KLM is offering affected passengers the choice to rebook their flights, request travel vouchers valid for one year, or receive a full financial refund.
The scheduling adjustments impact the wider aviation sector as well. Several other major international carriers, including Lufthansa and British Airways, have also announced reduced frequencies or prolonged route suspensions across the Middle East. For KLM, the decision heavily restricts its connection network between Europe and the Gulf states during the peak summer holiday season. The airline stated that it cannot yet determine when regular operations will become safe enough to resume.
@ anp | NEWS BRAINPORT
