The ongoing war in Iran has had many widespread consequences, far beyond the countries involved. This includes aviation, with numerous airlines ending or suspending routes or further delaying the return of flights to specific destinations, even to the ever-popular Dubai.

British Airways is one of many operators that remains affected. Six of its routes to the wider Middle East remain suspended. They build on various markets that have stopped seeing the oneworld member recently, including Kuwait and Jeddah. Elsewhere, Virgin Atlantic recently ended flights to Dubai and Riyadh.

British Airways Continues To Suspend These Six Routes

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OAG data was used to explore the oneworld member’s full schedule from London Heathrow Airport (LHR), which is the only UK airport from which the carrier now flies to the Middle East. This process identified that the following six routes remain suspended.

Most of them are due to see the airline again on October 25 or in the first week of November. This is largely because BA, like other Northern Hemisphere carriers, will switch to winter schedules based on IATA slot seasons. As there’s less than a month before flights are due to resume, it is reasonable to assume that they’ll all do so.

The List Does Not Include Doha, Qatar

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One of BA’s predecessors, BOAC, first began flying to Qatar in 1959. For many years, BA’s own frames operated to Doha via Bahrain, including on the Boeing 747-400. The intra-Gulf leg covered just 80 nautical miles (148 km) each way.

BA’s regular nonstop flights from LHR to Doha Hamad International Airport (DOH) began a decade ago, in October 2016, when the 777-200ER was deployed. The carrier’s continued interest in the route is largely because of its fellow oneworld member and joint venture partner, Qatar Airways.

BA took off for the large hub on September 1, 2026, having last done so in February this year. Like ten years ago, there is currently a daily operation on the 777-200ER. However, the frequency will double to two daily services, both on the 777-200ER, on March 28, 2027.

In the past, the carrier even flew the A380 there, while it also flew from London Gatwick Airport (LGW) to DOH between 2021 and 2024. In April next year, for example, the pair will have up to 13 daily flights from LHR/LGW to DOH. Naturally, BA’s double daily operation is timed to arrive and depart from DOH at peak times for Qatar Airways connectivity.

BA’s Middle East Flights Remain Down By 59%

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Come November 4, less than a month away, BA is due to have flights to five destinations in the Middle East. There DOH, along with Amman, Dubai, Riyadh, and Tel Aviv. The carrier has scheduled 32 weekly departures from LHR to the always troubled region, with four to five daily services. Of European flag carriers, only Lufthansa and ITA Airways plan more services, with 58 and 33, respectively.

Compared with last November, BA’s offering remains down by a considerable 59%. Then, 78 weekly departures were available, with ten to 12 daily flights. At the time, BA flew to Amman (daily), Abu Dhabi (daily), Bahrain (daily), Doha (13 weekly), Dubai (three daily), Jeddah (four weekly), Riyadh (12 weekly), and Tel Aviv (daily).