flights Flights hotelsHotels carsCars busesBuses packagesPackages corporate travelCorporate Travel

Travel Advisory: Flight Disruptions in the Middle East

Last updated: 21 May 2026 | 15:55 SAST

The situation in the Middle East has improved as Emirates, Etihad and Qatar resume operations and expand their flight schedules to many of their global destinations.

  • Emirates has reached a near-full return to operations, with 96% of its global network now restored, following a period of disruption. They are now operating to 137 destinations in 72 countries, over 1,300 weekly frequencies, representing 75% of pre-disruption capacity. Emirates has progressively resumed services across the Americas, Europe, Africa, West Asia, the Middle East/GCC, the Far East and Australasia. Emirates operates from Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban.
  • Etihad scheduled to resume their Joburg-Abu Dhabi services from 15June 2026 -their current schedule to operate Mon/Wed/Thu/Sat. They are currently back to +80% of their network.
  • Qatar Airways is expanding its international flight network, currently operating to 125 destinations and will expand to 163 destinations from 16 June 2026, connecting more passengers to more of the world this summer. Operating from Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban.

We will continue to monitor the situation and keep you updated

If You Have Upcoming Travel

Before you travel:

  • Please ensure the contact details you provided during booking are correct
  • Continue to check your flight status before travelling to the airport
  • Passengers are kindly reminded not to proceed to their departure airport unless they hold a valid, confirmed ticket for travel.
  • Please note: Flight schedules are subject to change or cancellation owing to operational, regulatory, safety, or other circumstances beyond our control.
  • Check in as normal on the airline website
  • Current Flight Operations (South Africa)
    • Johannesburg: 3 daily flights (including A380 on EK763/EK764)
    • Cape Town:
      • One daily flight (EK770/771) plus three additional weekly flights on Mon/Wed/Fri (EK772/773)
      • Double Daily Flights from 23 May 2026
    • Durban: Four scheduled weekly flights on Mon/Wed/Fri/Sun (EK775/776)
    • Schedule Change (Durban – Dubai):
      • EK776 (20–30 April 2026) now departs 17:10 (earlier), arriving Dubai 03:30 next day
  • Rebooking & Refund Policy (Important)
  • Applies to bookings with travel between: 28 Feb – 31 May 2026
  • You can:
  • Rebook for free
    • Travel must be completed by 15 June 2026
    • Same cabin (any booking class allowed)
    • Same destination or another destination in the same region
  • Request a full refund
    • Cancellation fees waived
  • New Bookings Flexibility
  • Tickets booked from 2 April 2026 include:
    • 1 free date change (fare differences may apply)
    • Changes must be within ticket validity
  • What You Need to Do
    • Check your email from Travelstart
    • Accept or decline the proposed option
  • Refund Timelines
    • Refunds take approximately 6–12 weeks
  • Need Help?
    • High volumes expected → response time 2–3 days
    • If your flight is within 48 hours, contact via WhatsApp: +27 71 482 7158
  • Before You Travel
  • Current Flight Operations
    • Etihad Airways is significantly expanding its global routes - currently they are back to +80% of their network
    • Flights between Johannesburg and Abu Dhabi commence on 15 June 2026 operating four times a week on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday.
    • Do not travel to the airport unless:
      • You have a confirmed booking, OR
      • Etihad has contacted you directly
  • Rebooking & Refund Policy (Important)
  • Refund is applicable for affected flights/cancelled flights
  • Request a refund (via Travelstart)
  • You can:
  • Rebook for free
  • New rebooking dates in the same cabin:
    • 60 days from the schedule change notification date, or
    • 60 days prior to the original departure date
  • Any dates beyond 60 days will be as per fare rules.
  • Current Flight Operations (South Africa)
    • Doha airport is now operating 24 hours
    • Flights are gradually increasing across the network
    • Currently operating 125+ destinations globally, ramping up to +163 by 16 Jun 2026
    • South Africa Flights (Weekly):
      • Johannesburg: Double Daily Flights
      • Cape Town: Daily Flights
      • Durban: 4 flights/week on Tue/Thu/Fri/Sun
    • Flight schedules may change - only travel if you have a confirmed ticket
  • Rebooking & Refund Policy (Important)
  • Applies to travel between:
    • Tickets issued by 15 May 2026
    • Travel dates: 28 Feb – 15 Sept 2026
  • You can:
  • Rebook for free
    • Travel allowed until 31 October 2026 when rebooking on flights operated by Qatar Airways, subject to availability and fare seasonability
    • Same route and booking class
  • Request a full refund
    • Cancellation fees waived (subject to airline approval)
  • What You Need to Do
    • Check your email from Travelstart
    • Accept or decline the proposed option
  • Refund Timelines
    • Refunds take approximately 6–12 weeks
  • Need Help?
    • High volumes expected → response time 2–3 days
    • If your flight is within 48 hours, contact via WhatsApp: +27 71 482 7158
  • Before You Travel

Frequently Asked Questions

The fastest way to check is directly on the airline’s website or mobile app using your airline booking reference. Airlines provide the most up-to-date operational information and will reflect any cancellations, delays or rerouting there first.

We recommend that you check your flight status before going to the airport. If your flight is confirmed as operating, you may proceed as planned. If the status is unclear or showing disruption, please monitor the airline’s updates before travelling to the airport.

Some airlines have introduced special disruption policies which may allow affected passengers to change travel dates or request refunds. Eligibility depends on the airline and the fare rules of your ticket. If your booking qualifies, our support team will assist you after you submit a request through our contact form.

If your departure is within the next 48 hours and your flight has been disrupted, please contact our support team directly so we can prioritise urgent travel assistance.

Refunds are processed by the airline once they approve the request. This process can take approximately 6–12 weeks depending on the airline and payment method. Once we receive the refund from the airline, it will be returned to your original form of payment.

Due to the high number of affected travellers, response times may currently be longer than usual. Our team is prioritising customers who are currently travelling or departing soon. If you have already been in contact with us and we have confirmed that we will cancel, rebook, or process a refund for your booking, your request has been added to our processing queue.

Bookings in this queue are handled based on departure date, with the most urgent travel prioritised first. If you do not receive a confirmation email, refund quote, or further update immediately, it means that your request is still in the queue and awaiting processing. Please rest assured that your case has been registered and will be handled as soon as it reaches the appropriate priority.

Refunds and Rebooking

If your flight is cancelled or significantly changed, refund or rebooking options will depend on the airline’s policy and the fare rules of your ticket.

As Travelstart, we process changes and refunds in accordance with the airline’s authorisation. Our team is available to review your booking and guide you through the available options.

Need Assistance?

If your departure is within the next 24 hours and you have not received communication regarding your flight, please contact our Customer Support team:

South Africa

📞 +27 21 468 4300
💬 Whatsapp +27 71 482 7158.
🌍 https://www.travelstart.co.za/contact-us

Disclaimer:

The information provided above is based on airline communications and publicly available updates at the time of publication. While Travelstart makes every effort to ensure the accuracy of this information, airline policies, schedules, and operational decisions may change at short notice. Travelstart cannot be held liable for any inaccuracies, omissions, or changes made by airlines or relevant authorities. Customers are advised to verify the latest updates directly with their airline prior to travel.

ai-travel-agent-icon

Plan your trip

Partners

Need Help?

Download our app

Free for iPhones and Android