Qatar Airways will resume flights to Bahrain, Erbil and Kuwait from Saturday, August 8, restoring key regional links that had been suspended amid the wider regional conflict and disruptions to air travel.
Gulf Air has opened bookings for its new direct Bahrain–Kuala Lumpur service, launching on September 29, 2026, with additional flights scheduled ahead of the Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix 2026 in Malaysia to meet expected travel demand.
Riyadh Air has announced the expansion of its network in Asia with the launch of new flights connecting Riyadh with Islamabad and Lahore in Pakistan, and Manila in the Philippines.
Abu Dhabi Airports has expanded its network with the launch of three direct Air India Express services from Zayed International Airport to key Indian destinations - Navi Mumbai, Indore and Lucknow - thus increasing capacity on one of the world's busiest travel corridors.
UAE national carrier Etihad Airways has announced the official launch of its inaugural flight to Tashkent, thus creating a new connection between Abu Dhabi and one of the world's fastest-growing aviation markets - Uzbekistan.
Abha International Airport set a new operational record on 5 July, handling more than 130 flights in one day. The milestone included 117 domestic and 15 international flights, marking its highest-ever daily traffic volume.
Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, operated by Cluster2 Airports, has welcomed its first 2026 seasonal direct flight from Sochi, Russia, operated by Azimuth Airlines, boosting weekly international connectivity and expanding the airport’s route network.
Riyadh Air has opened ticket sales for its first India route, launching daily Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner flights between Mumbai and Riyadh from August 4, 2026, linking Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport with King Khalid International Airport.
Gulf Air, the national carrier of the Kingdom of Bahrain, said it plans to launch direct flights to Kuala Lumpur after Formula One and the FIA confirmed that the Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix will be held at Malaysia's Sepang International Circuit from October 2 to 4.
Several Gulf carriers have cancelled their flights to a few destinations, including some services to Bahrain, due to the ongoing regional situation, affecting many passengers planning to travel for the summer holiday, a GDNonline report said.
