Dubai Airports update March 21: Etihad Airways asks passengers to check latest flight status and warns of online scams amid ongoing travel disruptions

As of 21 March 2026, flight operations across Dubai and other UAE airports—particularly at Dubai International Airport (DXB), one of the world’s busiest aviation hubs—are only partially functional. Services continue to face disruptions, according to the latest airline advisories and official statements. Major UAE carriers, including Emirates and Etihad Airways, are currently operating reduced and restricted flight schedules due to ongoing regional airspace constraints, with Emirates confirming that it is running only limited services.Etihad Airways too shared a fresh travel update on X and stated that it is operating only a limited number of commercial flights to select destinations. It also urged passengers to check flight status before travelling and avoid arriving at the airport without confirmation. The official travel update also suggested passengers to stay away from online scams.“Etihad is currently operating a limited commercial flight schedule between Abu Dhabi and a number of key destinations. Flight status is available here:https://etihad.com/en/manage/flight-statusGuests with previous bookings will be accommodated on these flights as soon as possible. Tickets are also available for sale on http://etihad.com."Travelling to the airportGuests and members of the public should not travel to the airport unless they have been contacted directly by Etihad or hold a confirmed booking on one of the new flights.Meanwhile, the airline also shared some important reminders for the flyers:• Check their flight status at http://etihad.com before travelling to the airport.• Ensure their contact details are up to date in their booking at http://etihad.com/manage.• Guests who booked through a travel agent should contact their agent directly for refund and rebooking options.• Guests holding Etihad tickets issued on or before 28 February 2026, with original travel dates from 28 February to 15 April 2026, may rebook free of charge onto Etihad-operated flights up to 15 May 2026 at http://etihad.com/manage. Rebooking to flights after 15 May 2026 may incur an applicable charge.• Guests holding Etihad tickets issued on or before 28 February 2026, with original travel dates from 28 February to 15 April 2026, may also request a refund through http://etihad.com/manage.Indian carriers Indian airlines such as IndiGo and Air India have adjusted their operations in line with official advisories. These are running limited or special flights given the current situation in West Asia.Meanwhile, as of 21 March 2026, Dubai’s airports are open but not operating fully. Airlines like Emirates and Etihad are maintaining limited operations. Travellers should only believe in official airline notifications.