Information obtained from the Dubai Airports website on Friday showed that multiple outbound and inbound Flydubai flights to Iran were abruptly called off, raising concerns among passengers and highlighting growing regional disruptions linked to the unrest in the Islamic Republic.
At least 17 Flydubai flights scheduled for Friday between Dubai and major Iranian cities, including Tehran, Shiraz and Mashhad, have been cancelled amid escalating nationwide protests and a sweeping internet blackout in Iran.
Information obtained from the Dubai Airports website on Friday showed that multiple outbound and inbound Flydubai flights to Iran were abruptly called off, raising concerns among passengers and highlighting growing regional disruptions linked to the unrest in the Islamic Republic.
The cancellations came as Iran experienced a near-total nationwide internet blackout on Thursday, which continued into Friday, reportedly imposed by authorities in a bid to suppress the flow of information and curb expanding protests across the country.
Iran has been gripped by widespread demonstrations since late December, sparked by worsening economic conditions, soaring inflation and deepening hardship faced by ordinary citizens.
The protests have since spread across several cities, shaking the country and prompting a heavy-handed response from the authorities.
Confirming the development, a Flydubai spokesperson said flights to Iran scheduled for Friday had been cancelled, adding that the airline would “continue to monitor the situation” and adjust its flight schedule accordingly.
However, the airline did not disclose the specific reasons behind the disruption.
The flight cancellations were not limited to Flydubai. Turkish media reports indicated that Turkish Airlines cancelled at least 17 flights to Iranian destinations on Friday, while Turkey’s Ajet reportedly cancelled six flights.
Budget carrier Pegasus Airlines was also said to have cancelled several flights to Iranian cities.
Similarly, at least two flights scheduled between Doha, Qatar, and Tehran were cancelled on Friday, according to information published on the Hamad International Airport website.