Direct flights from Dubai to Incheon resumed on March 6 amid the U.S. and Israel's airstrikes on Iran, stranding hundreds of thousands in the Middle East. The South Korean government is supporting the return of around 3,000 nationals stuck in the UAE through commercial and chartered flights. This development raises hopes for stranded Korean tourists to come home.
The joint U.S. and Israeli airstrikes on Iran have caused major disruptions to air travel in the Middle East. The conflict, which began on February 28, has stranded hundreds of thousands of travelers, with flights delayed or canceled at key hubs like Dubai. This marks the largest global air transport disruption since the Covid pandemic.
Emirates direct flights from Dubai to Incheon departed at 3:30 a.m. and 4:45 a.m. local time on March 6. These were the first direct services since the suspension following the U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran and Tehran's retaliatory attacks. The South Korean government has coordinated with UAE authorities to secure safe return routes for its nationals. Presidential chief of staff Kang Hoon-sik stated, "We finalized the resumption of commercial flight operations departing from the UAE late last night," noting that a wide-body UAE passenger aircraft carrying Koreans left Dubai for Seoul and is scheduled to arrive at Incheon around 7:30 p.m. Friday.
Foreign Minister Cho Hyun spoke with his UAE counterpart to request direct flights to Incheon and confirmed contact with all short-term travelers. Excluding long-term residents, about 3,000 Koreans, mostly travelers, are in the UAE, many in Dubai. The government plans to deploy chartered flights and military transport aircraft as early as this weekend. Overall, around 21,000 South Korean nationals are estimated to be in 10 Middle Eastern countries.
Meanwhile, Korean Air has extended the suspension of its Incheon-Dubai route through March 15, following a flight ban notified by Dubai airport authorities. Stranded travelers' accounts highlight the challenges. Viktoriia Lokhmatova from Serbia and Michael Crepin from Belgium, with their children, were stuck in Dubai after cancellations. They spent nearly two days on calls with the airline and received a free one-night stay from AraBnB Homes. They heard explosions from air defense systems but "tried to stay calm because the kids were there," Crepin said.
Indian tech entrepreneur Varun Krishnan's flight from Doha to Barcelona turned around mid-air due to closed Baghdad airspace, circling the UAE before returning to Doha. U.S. tourist Louise Herrle from Pittsburgh and her husband, stranded in Dubai, face uncertain departures amid jet noises and blasts, calling it "extremely stressful" but a "shared experience that brings people together." Hong Kong expat Agnes Chen Pun relocated her family twice for safety and secured $2,200-per-person tickets to Singapore, though departure remains uncertain; she plans to return to the UAE post-conflict, prioritizing safety.
