At least 16 airlines skipping Dubai this winter, impacting hotels

Skift reported that at least 16 airlines from outside the Gulf are not flying to Dubai during the 2026/27 winter season, with many postponing their return until the end of March.

Among the airlines delaying service are Dutch carrier KLM, which announced on October 26 it will not fly to Dubai at all this winter, and Germany's Lufthansa Group, which pushed its return to November 25 after multiple delays since March.

Other airlines staying out until spring include Finnair, United, Air Canada, and low-cost carrier Wizz Air, reducing long-haul capacity that Dubai's luxury hotels rely on during the winter months.

Hotel operators told Skift they expected European airlines to resume flights with winter schedules in late October, which was anticipated to boost December bookings, but the delays have tempered forward booking data.

The absence of these airlines raises questions about whether Gulf carriers Emirates and flydubai will capture the demand left behind and how this will affect inbound tourism pressures alongside other regional factors.

Skift also highlighted concerns about the exposure of Dubai's luxury hotels to a winter season without key long-haul airline connections and the broader impact on tourism in the Middle East.