Transavia passengers flying between Europe and Dubai have been hit by a fresh wave of cancellations as the Dutch low cost carrier extends the suspension of all services to and from Dubai. The move is directly linked to heightened geopolitical tensions across the Middle East and new operational limits on which airspace airlines can safely use. For travelers, the result is a patchwork of cancellations, rolling 48 hour assessments, and evolving rebooking options that now stretch into late February 2026.
What exactly has Transavia suspended and until when?
Transavia has cancelled all its flights to and from Dubai, citing the geopolitical situation involving Iran, Iraq, Israel, and several Gulf states, as well as airspace restrictions that limit where and when its aircraft can fly. Initially, the carrier announced a short term halt through late January, but subsequent updates have extended the disruption multiple times as safety advisories and airport slot constraints failed to ease.
According to the airline’s official customer information page, all Transavia flights to and from Dubai are currently cancelled through at least Monday 9 February 2026, with the airline warning that further cancellations are likely if safety guidance does not change. The company has committed to reviewing the situation on a rolling basis and canceling additional flights roughly 48 hours before departure when required. At the same time, regional outlets report that Dubai services have in practice been halted until at least Friday 13 February, reflecting the operational reality that slots and daylight only routings make earlier resumptions very unlikely.
The upshot for travelers is that no Transavia operated flights are currently operating between Amsterdam and Dubai, and anyone scheduled to fly in the first half of February should assume that their service is at high risk of being cancelled or rebooked, even if it has not yet been formally removed from the schedule.
Why Dubai flights are affected if Dubai itself is considered safe
One of the most confusing aspects for travelers is that Dubai remains open and considered safe from a destination perspective, yet airlines like Transavia continue to cancel or suspend routes. The core issue is not Dubai itself but the airspace between Europe and the Gulf, particularly over Iran, Iraq, Israel, and portions of the wider region that regulators and airlines now treat as high risk.
Transavia has publicly confirmed that, as a precaution, it is not flying over the airspace of Iran, Iraq, Israel, and some other Gulf states. European regulators have also tightened their guidance, in some cases restricting overflight of key corridors or requiring that certain regions only be crossed in daylight hours. For a low cost operator with strict aircraft utilization patterns, these constraints can make it operationally unviable to maintain a long haul leisure route that already operates near the limits of its scheduling window.
Compounding the problem are slot restrictions at Dubai International Airport. In its latest updates, Transavia notes that the airport authority can currently only offer takeoff and landing times that fall outside the hours permitted by safety advisories. That leaves the airline caught between regulatory obligations and airport capacity. Without slots that align with allowable routes and daylight parameters, the carrier has opted to cancel rather than attempt complex detours that may still violate guidance or create cascading disruptions across its European network.
How long could the service disruption last?
There is no fixed end date for the Dubai suspension, and Transavia has been explicit that the situation is fluid. The airline has said it will resume flights within approximately 48 hours of any positive change in official safety advice that would allow it to operate routes within acceptable risk parameters and matching Dubai slot times. Until then, cancellations will be rolled forward in blocks as regulators, aviation authorities, and military developments shape what is and is not possible in the sky between Europe and the Gulf.
Recent communications also broadened the flexibility window for passengers. Initially, rebooking options without change fees focused on flights scheduled through mid February. Newer updates from Dubai based media and travel advisories indicate that passengers booked through at least 28 February can now rebook free of charge if they no longer wish to travel under current conditions. For tickets beyond that period, standard fare rules are expected to apply unless fresh advisories extend the crisis further into the spring.
A critical indicator to watch is whether regional tensions ease enough to relax daylight only corridors and overflight bans. If those restrictions persist, Transavia’s ability to restore a reliable Dubai schedule will remain limited, even if security risks do not escalate further. Travelers planning trips in March and April should monitor the airline’s announcements closely and be prepared for late schedule changes, especially if they are connecting from other European cities onto Dubai bound services.
What options do affected passengers have right now?
For travelers whose flights to or from Dubai have been cancelled, Transavia is offering a mix of refunds, rebooking, and rerouting options. The airline has confirmed that passengers can request a full refund of the ticket price if they choose not to travel at all. This applies both to outbound trips to Dubai and to return legs back to Europe, provided the original flight has been formally cancelled.
Passengers who still need to travel can opt to change their travel dates to later in the year. In many cases, date changes are being offered without change fees for flights that were scheduled through mid to late February. If a new travel date involves a higher fare, however, customers may be asked to pay the difference in ticket price. Where possible, Transavia is also allowing travelers to rebook to alternative destinations on its network, for example shifting a Dubai holiday to another sunny destination, as long as the new flight departs within 14 days of the original travel date.
The airline is also advising those who urgently need to reach Dubai or return home from the emirate to seek alternative airlines and routings. Travelers may be able to route via other Gulf hubs or European gateways served by Air France, KLM, or partner carriers. Transavia has indicated that reasonable extra costs for alternative travel, particularly where no other Transavia operated solution exists, can be claimed back, subject to documentation and review. Passengers are encouraged to keep receipts and booking confirmations to support any claims.
How will you know if your flight is cancelled or changed?
Communication has been a key focus for Transavia as rolling cancellations have mounted. The airline states that the main person listed as the booker on each reservation will be notified automatically by SMS and email if a flight to or from Dubai is cancelled. These notifications are intended to arrive at least 48 hours in advance of departure where possible, and they typically include details on rebooking options, refund procedures, and any specific forms required to claim additional costs.
Travelers who booked via a travel agency, Transavia Holidays, or KLM are being asked to contact their original booking channel directly. In these cases the agency or partner carrier often manages rebooking on behalf of clients and may bundle flight changes with hotel, transfer, or tour modifications if a broader package is affected. Customers in this situation should be prepared for slightly slower response times, given the high volume of affected itineraries.
Even if you have not yet received a cancellation notice, it is wise to actively check your booking through the airline’s website or app and monitor local news from both your departure country and the United Arab Emirates. Because decisions are tied closely to safety advisories, flight statuses can change quickly, especially around key review dates mentioned in Transavia’s notices.
Your rights and possible compensation under European rules
From a legal standpoint, European air passenger rights apply to Transavia’s Dubai flights departing from the European Union. These rules give travelers on cancelled flights a right to either a refund or re routing under comparable conditions. However, whether cash compensation is owed in addition to a refund or rerouting is more complex and depends on whether the disruption is considered beyond the airline’s control.
Given that Transavia’s cancellations are tied to safety advisories, airspace closures, and geopolitical instability, many cases will fall under the category of extraordinary circumstances. In such situations, airlines are generally not required to pay lump sum compensation, although they still must provide care obligations such as meals, accommodation, and reasonable assistance if passengers are stranded mid journey. Some claims specialists have nonetheless signaled that each case should be assessed on its own facts, particularly where cancellations extend far beyond the immediate crisis period or where other airlines continue to operate via alternative routings.
Passengers should carefully document all communications with the airline, keep boarding passes or booking confirmations, and track any additional expenses such as hotels or ground transport that become necessary due to disruptions. Submitting a claim directly through Transavia’s customer service channels is the first step. If the response is unsatisfactory, travelers can escalate to national enforcement bodies or consider independent legal advice, especially where significant costs are at stake.
Practical advice for travelers with upcoming Dubai plans
If you have an upcoming Transavia booking to or from Dubai in February 2026, the most important step is to stay proactive. Check your flight status regularly and assume that services in the first half of the month are at particular risk. If your travel is flexible, consider voluntarily rebooking to a later date or to a different destination on Transavia’s network, taking advantage of the current fee waivers while they remain in place.
Travelers who must travel on fixed dates, especially for events, medical appointments, or business obligations, should explore alternative routings now rather than waiting for a last minute cancellation. Options may include flying via other European hubs served by full service carriers, connecting through Gulf airlines that are still operating modified services, or combining rail and air segments to avoid congested or restricted corridors. When booking alternatives, keep screenshots of prices and routes at the time of purchase in case you later seek reimbursement for reasonable extra costs.
Finally, review your travel insurance policies, focusing on clauses related to war, terrorism, and political unrest. Some policies exclude coverage for events tied to armed conflict, while others may provide partial protection for trip interruption, missed connections, or additional accommodation costs. Understanding what is covered before you travel will help you make more informed decisions about whether to proceed, postpone, or reshape your itinerary in light of the ongoing uncertainty.
How this fits into the wider Middle East aviation picture
Transavia’s suspension of Dubai flights is part of a broader pattern of European and global airlines recalibrating their Middle East operations. In recent weeks, other carriers including Air France and KLM have scaled back or temporarily halted flights to key regional cities, citing similar concerns about overflight risks and rapidly changing security assessments. Some airlines have opted for longer detours that skirt restricted airspace, while others have judged that the operational and financial costs of such detours are unsustainable on certain routes.
The impact stretches well beyond holidaymakers. Corporate travel teams, logistics planners, and expatriate communities are all grappling with reduced connectivity across a region that is usually one of the world’s busiest air corridors. While Dubai itself remains operational and continues to be served by many carriers, the network of links that feed into its hub is being reshaped day by day as airlines weigh safety, cost, and demand dynamics.
For now, Transavia customers face a period of continued uncertainty. The airline’s pledge to restart services quickly once safety conditions and slot availability align offers some hope that Dubai flights may resume later in 2026. Until that point, travelers will need to rely on flexible planning, close monitoring of airline communications, and a clear understanding of their rights and options to navigate the evolving disruptions between Europe and the Gulf.