British Airways has restarted passenger flights between London Heathrow and Dubai International Airport after an eight-month interruption linked to the Middle East conflict, restoring a daily connection between the two aviation hubs.
The first service, BA105, reached Dubai at 7.33am on Wednesday, 4 November, after leaving Heathrow on Tuesday evening. The Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner, registered G-ZBLA, subsequently operated the return flight, BA104, from Dubai on Wednesday morning.
The airline is operating one flight daily in each direction throughout the winter timetable. It intends to increase that frequency to two daily services during summer 2027, subject to its operational plans. The initial schedule provides seven weekly departures from each airport, rising to 14 if the expansion proceeds.
The resumption follows an earlier target of 25 October, which British Airways deferred to 3 November as it assessed operating conditions. Flights on the route had been suspended since the escalation of fighting involving Iran at the end of February, when security concerns and airspace restrictions disrupted international services across the Gulf.
For passengers, the restoration adds another nonstop option between Dubai and Heathrow, although British Airways is returning with a smaller schedule than it maintained before the conflict. Travellers seeking alternative departure times will therefore continue to face a more limited choice on the airline’s own services.
Flight tracking information identifies the aircraft used for Wednesday’s arrival as a Boeing 787-10, part of the airline’s long-haul fleet. Published schedules place Heathrow departures at around 8pm, with arrival in Dubai the following morning, reflecting the four-hour time difference between the cities during Britain’s winter season.
The return flight, BA104, departed Dubai at 9.45am on Wednesday, with an afternoon arrival scheduled at Heathrow. The restored services use Terminal 5 in London and Terminal 1 in Dubai, according to published flight information.
British Airways has not reinstated its entire network in the region. Its Abu Dhabi route remains suspended, with the airline indicating that services to the UAE capital are not expected to return until the winter 2027-28 timetable. Passengers travelling specifically to Abu Dhabi cannot yet book the carrier’s former nonstop service.
The airline has adopted different restart dates across its Middle East network, reflecting conditions affecting individual destinations. Doha flights resumed in September at one service daily, compared with two before the disruption. Tel Aviv services returned in October, while flights to Amman were scheduled to restart on 4 November at four weekly frequencies.
Other routes face longer interruptions. British Airways has indicated that Bahrain flights will remain suspended until the end of March 2027. Its published plans also place the restart of Riyadh services in January 2027, illustrating how its return to Dubai does not signal a simultaneous reopening of every regional destination.
Several European airlines are likewise maintaining restrictions on Dubai operations. Lufthansa, Swiss and Eurowings have scheduled their return for 25 November, while Austrian Airlines plans to resume Vienna-Dubai flights on 12 December. Those dates remain subject to airline assessments and the operating environment.
Air France has extended its Dubai suspension into November, while Singapore Airlines has indicated that its services will remain suspended until late February 2027. Air Canada and KLM have set later return dates, and Virgin Atlantic does not currently plan to restore Dubai flights until October 2027.
The differing timetables also mean that passengers arranging connecting journeys cannot assume that services across the Gulf have returned together. Airlines are publishing route-specific schedules, and travellers may need to check individual flight arrangements before departure.
The uneven recovery reflects continued concern over airspace access and security. European aviation safety authorities have maintained conflict-zone guidance covering parts of the region, leaving airlines to weigh available routings, regulatory advice and their own risk assessments before restarting operations.
British Airways has said passenger safety remains central to its decisions on Middle East flying. Its customer guidance also provides options for eligible passengers affected by cancellations, including refunds and changes to bookings, although the conditions depend on ticket issue dates and intended travel periods.
The restored Heathrow-Dubai timetable includes an overnight eastbound flight, allowing passengers departing London in the evening to arrive in Dubai the next morning. The aircraft used on the inaugural resumed service carries the registration G-ZBLA.
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