KLM and Swiss International Air Lines have both announced further delays to their planned Middle East resumptions, with KLM pushing its Amsterdam–Dubai return back to 27 March 2027 and Swiss delaying its Dubai restart to 25 November 2026, according to FlightGlobal.
The decisions reflect a broader pattern of European carriers holding back from the region as Houthi military activity continues to create uncertainty around key airports and airspace.
How We Got Here
Flights from KLM to Dubai have been absent from the carrier's schedule since early 2026. The Dutch airline had originally intended to resume all three of its suspended Middle East routes at the beginning of last month's winter season, according to Aviation A2Z. The three routes in question are Amsterdam–Dubai, Amsterdam–Riyadh and Amsterdam–Dammam.
The Amsterdam–Dubai resumption has now been pushed to 27 March 2027, a date well into the next summer season. KLM's Riyadh and Dammam services remain suspended until 27 November 2026, a shorter delay but still well beyond the original October target, FlightGlobal reports.
Swiss had planned to resume Dubai flights on 27 October 2026. That date has now been moved to 25 November 2026, in line with the wider Lufthansa Group position. Aviation A2Z reports that Lufthansa Group services to Dubai had already been suspended since March 2026, and on 23 October the group announced it would delay its planned Dubai resumption until 25 November 2026.
Eurowings, which had planned to resume Dubai flights on 1 November, has also postponed that return, according to Aviation A2Z.
The Riyadh Airport Closure That Accelerated the Delays
A Houthi-claimed attack on Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport on 10 October killed 13 people and forced the airport to halt operations entirely, Aviation A2Z reports. The closure lasted roughly two weeks.
On 25 October the airport partially reopened, with domestic services resuming at Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 taking on international flights operated by Saudi carriers. In the period following the partial reopening, Saudi authorities reported that additional incoming missiles and drones had been intercepted, while a Houthi military spokesperson stated that the airport remained a target, according to Aviation A2Z.
Saudi Arabia has been supporting Yemen's internationally recognised government against Houthi forces since 2015, a conflict that has increasingly drawn in regional infrastructure as a theatre of operations.
What the Travel Advisories Say
The regulatory and governmental picture adds another layer of complexity for carriers trying to set a return date.
The UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has warned that the situation in the Middle East "remains deeply unpredictable and the risk of sudden escalation is high," and has advised that "British nationals in, or planning to travel through, the Middle East should be prepared for possible flight cancellations, airspace closures, and travel disruptions," according to Paddle Your Own Kanoo. Notably, the FCDO has not advised against travel to the UAE itself, Aviation A2Z notes.
A Level 3 "Reconsider Travel" advisory for the UAE, renewed on 23 October 2026, has been issued by the US State Department, according to Aviation A2Z. Separately, the FAA has put in place aviation-related restrictions and formal notices addressing risks across the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman region, Aviation A2Z reports.
The gap between the FCDO's position on travel to the UAE and the far more cautious US advisory illustrates the difficulty carriers face. Dubai continues to receive passengers, but the airspace environment between Europe and the Gulf remains the central operational concern.
What KLM and Swiss Are Offering Passengers
KLM is notifying affected passengers and offering rebooking and refund options, FlightGlobal reports. Passengers booked on the suspended routes should contact the airline directly or check their booking channels for options.
You can use our Airline Search to find contact information and route details for KLM, Swiss and other carriers operating across the Middle East.
The Bottom Line
The gap between KLM's Dubai return date (March 2027) and Swiss and Lufthansa Group's target (November 2026) suggests that individual carriers are reading the same risk environment differently and making separate commercial judgements about when confidence can be restored.
What is clear is that the October 2026 winter season restart that several European airlines had planned is not happening, and passengers with bookings on suspended routes face a prolonged period of uncertainty. The partial reopening of Riyadh airport has not, so far, been enough to shift the calculus for European carriers weighing operational safety against the commercial cost of staying out of a major market.
The FCDO's warning that disruption may arrive without warning is a reasonable summary of what airlines themselves appear to be acting on. A 25 November target for Swiss and the Lufthansa Group gives some structure, but the situation at and around regional airports suggests that date carries its own risk of further revision.
Continue to follow The Aviation Hub for more analysis and insight.
Advertise with us Your brand, in front of an aviation audience Home page and in-article placements, sold directly, one advertiser per slot. From £250 a year. See the rates
