October 8, 2026 — Update: Wizz Air has cancelled every flight to and from Abu Dhabi and Dubai for the whole winter season, from October 25, 2026 to March 27, 2027. Earlier this week it had only postponed some Abu Dhabi routes to January.
What happened
What changed: on October 5 Wizz Air pushed back part of its planned Abu Dhabi return. On October 8 it scrapped the full winter programme to both UAE cities.
The airline blames regional airspace restrictions that were extended on September 30. The longer routings they require make the flights commercially unviable on its Airbus A321neo and A321XLR aircraft, it says. In its statement Wizz Air said: “We regret the disruption to travel plans.”
Flights to Amman are also affected, after an EASA bulletin advised airlines to stay out of Jordanian airspace. Wizz Air’s wider Middle East return had been planned as 12 routes and 49 weekly flights, with 470,000 seats from nine European cities to the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Jordan. The status of its Jeddah flights is TBA.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Cancelled | All flights to and from Abu Dhabi and Dubai |
| Period | October 25, 2026 to March 27, 2027 |
| Also affected | Amman |
| Jeddah | TBA |
| Return date | TBA |
Wizz Air suspended its European-operated Middle East flights in late February 2026. Its Abu Dhabi-based subsidiary stopped flying in September 2025.
What it means for non-revs
- There is no low-cost Europe–UAE option this winter. Wizz Air does not take part in ZED, but its cheap tickets were a common backup when standby failed.
- Expect tighter loads on Emirates, Etihad and flydubai to and from Europe as Wizz Air’s customers rebook.
- Buy a refundable backup earlier than usual on Gulf routes, since last-minute fares are likely to rise.
- If you hold a Wizz Air ticket to Abu Dhabi, Dubai or Amman this winter, contact the airline; the reports did not describe refund terms.
Sources
- The National, Wizz Air cancels winter season flights to Abu Dhabi and Dubai
- Gulf Business, Wizz Air’s UAE comeback grounded again as airline scraps winter flights
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