Is Dubai International Airport Open on April 2? More Routes, Fewer Surprises, Still Not Normal

TL;DR

• Dubai International Airport (DXB) is open and operating on April 2 with no new incidents reported overnight.

• Emirates is serving approximately 127 destinations but 20 routes remain suspended in April, including Houston, Los Angeles, and Osaka.

• Air France was expected to resume Paris-Dubai flights today, April 2, though its official suspension through April 19 has not been lifted. Verify directly before traveling.

• British Airways, Lufthansa Group, KLM, United Airlines, Air Canada, and Wizz Air remain suspended to DXB through their respective dates.

• The UAE residency grace period expired March 31. Standard entry rules are back in effect as of April 1.

• Dubai Airports' advisory remains active: do not travel to DXB without a confirmed departure time from your airline.

• Emirates rebooking window covers travel Feb 28 through Apr 30, with rebook deadline of June 15.

What's Actually Different About April 2

The easiest way to understand where DXB is right now is to go back to March 1. Emirates was flying 24 flights that day — total. By March 29, that was 327. April 2 continues that upward curve, and the airport is clearly stabilizing. Two consecutive mornings without a shutdown or diversion is not a small thing given what March looked like.

What makes today distinct from yesterday is the Air France question. Multiple sources reported the French carrier was expected to restart Paris-Dubai service on April 2, potentially ending a suspension that has been in place since late February. However, Air France's official communication still lists its Dubai suspension through April 19, and the airline has extended this deadline repeatedly without warning. Until Air France updates its own website or you receive a confirmation email, treat that route as still grounded. If you're booked on an Air France Dubai flight in the next few weeks, check airfrance.com directly today.

Turkish Airlines is in a similar position. The carrier suspended UAE routes through end of March, and mid-April restart dates have been floated. No official confirmation has landed yet. If Turkish is your carrier, go to turkishairlines.com before assuming anything is running.

Emirates Is Flying — But Not Everywhere Yet

Emirates is the backbone of what's working at DXB right now, and the airline is clearly pushing hard to restore as much of its network as possible. Around 127 destinations are back on the schedule, and A380 service has returned to Bangkok, Birmingham, Denpasar, Kuala Lumpur, Manchester, and Mauritius in April.

What's still missing matters for a lot of travelers. Emirates has 20 destinations not yet restored in April. Three that stand out: Houston Intercontinental, Los Angeles, and Osaka Kansai. All three had been served by the A380 before the conflict began on February 28. LA and Houston are two of Emirates' most important US routes. If you're flying from either city to Dubai, there is no Emirates option right now. The airline's current schedule placeholder has those routes returning May 1, but aviation analysts widely consider that date aspirational rather than confirmed.

Who's Flying and Who Isn't — April 2, 2026

Here’s where the major airlines stand as of today:

Emirates: About 127 destinations are operating, with 20 routes still suspended in April, including Houston, Los Angeles, and Osaka. Booked Feb 28 through Apr 30? Rebook to the same destination by June 15, or request a full refund at emirates.com. Booked via a travel agent? Go through them. Check emirat.es/flightstatus within an hour of leaving.

flydubai: Back above 100 routes from DXB. Verify your specific flight is operating before heading out. Rebooking at flydubai.com or (+971) 600 54 44 45.

Etihad: About 80 destinations out of Abu Dhabi, including two daily Paris-CDG flights. Tickets for travel Feb 28 through Apr 15 can be refunded or rebooked free until May 15 at etihad.com/manage.

Air Arabia: Running select routes from Sharjah, Abu Dhabi, and Ras Al Khaimah to India, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and parts of Europe. Refund, credit voucher, and rebook options are available for affected passengers.

Air India & Air India Express: Running 30 flights across West Asia as of April 1, up from 20 on March 30. Free rebook or full refund still available. 24/7 support: +91 11693 29333.

IndiGo: The Mumbai to Dubai route is operating. Check your status and watch for notifications through your registered contact info before leaving home.

Qatar Airways: Running Doha to Dubai on a limited schedule, expanding toward 120-plus destinations by mid-May. Booked Feb 28 through Apr 30? Two free date changes up to May 31, or a refund on the unused portion of your ticket.

Middle East Airlines: Running scheduled services between DXB and Beirut.

China Southern Airlines: Running select routes from Guangzhou and Shenzhen. Check the airline's website for the current schedule before you go.

Air France: Expected to restart Paris-Dubai on April 2 per multiple reports, but the airline's official suspension still lists April 19. Do not assume this route is running. Check airfrance.com or your booking email before heading to the airport. Free rebook to May 17 or a one-year voucher valid on Air France, KLM, or Delta if your flight remains canceled.

Turkish Airlines: Suspended UAE routes through the end of March, with mid-April restart dates floated but not officially confirmed. Go to turkishairlines.com for the current status before making any plans around this carrier. Booked before Feb 28 for travel through Apr 30? Rebook penalty-free or request a refund.

British Airways: Dubai, Amman, Bahrain, and Tel Aviv canceled through May 31. Abu Dhabi is out until October 25. Doha until April 30. BA is adding flights to Bangkok and Singapore for affected passengers. Full refund or rebook available for any booking through May 31.

Lufthansa Group (LH, SWISS, Austrian, ITA, Brussels): Dubai suspended through at least May 31. Eurowings out through October 24. Ticket issued by March 1 for travel March 16 to 26? A refund is available.

KLM: Not flying to or from Dubai through May 17. Canceled passengers can rebook free or request a refund through the My Trip portal.

United Airlines: All Dubai flights are impacted through June 15. Ticket purchased by Feb 28 for travel March 8 through June 15? Reschedule with no change fees or fare difference. New travel after June 15: change fees waived, fare difference may apply.

Air Canada: Dubai flights suspended through April 30. Rebook to the same destination or reroute to Europe, the UK, India, or Africa at no extra cost.

Philippine Airlines: Manila to Dubai route (PR 658/659) suspended through at least April 30. Rebook and refund options on the airline's website.

Cathay Pacific: All passenger and cargo flights to Dubai are canceled through April 30. Added London flights are absorbing some of the displaced demand.

Wizz Air: Flights to Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Amman from mainland Europe are suspended through mid-September.

Virgin Atlantic: Dubai seasonal service is suspended for the rest of the winter. Riyadh remains paused and under review.

Oman Air: Dubai and several Gulf routes suspended through April 15. The European, Southeast Asian, and African networks are running normally.

What to Know Before You Head to DXB Today

Two things that changed as of this week that matter for travelers. First, the UAE residency grace period ended March 31. If you have a lapsed UAE residency visa, the ability to return without penalty is gone. Standard entry rules are back in full effect as of April 1. If that applies to you, sort your documentation before trying to travel.

Second, Dubai schools resume in-person classes on April 3. That means more traffic, more families moving around the city, and busier ground transport in general. The Metro's Red Line to the airport is running fine, but build a little extra time into your journey if you're traveling tomorrow or over the weekend.

Inside the terminal, security lines are still slower than pre-crisis normal. Baggage handling has improved but is still working through a backlog. Neither will cost you your flight if you plan ahead. Give yourself at least an extra 30 to 45 minutes more than you normally would.

Scam warning — still very active

Fake social media accounts are still targeting passengers with canceled bookings, pushing fraudulent refund forms asking for passwords, one-time codes, and payment details. Neither Emirates nor Etihad will ever contact you through social media asking for sensitive information. Emirates support only at emirat.es/xdm. Etihad only at etihad.com. Never post your booking reference publicly.

Frequently Asked Questions: Dubai Airport April 2, 2026

Is Dubai International Airport open on April 2, 2026?

Yes. DXB is open and operating with no new incidents reported overnight. A reduced but growing schedule is in place. Dubai Airports' advisory to confirm your flight before traveling is still active — check directly with your airline before heading out.

Is Air France flying to Dubai today, April 2?

Multiple sources reported Air France was expected to restart Paris-Dubai service on April 2. However, the airline's official suspension statement covers flights through April 19. Until Air France updates its own website or contacts you directly, treat the route as still grounded. Check airfrance.com or your booking confirmation before making any plans.

Which Emirates routes are still suspended in April 2026?

Emirates has 20 destinations not yet restored in April. Routes that remain fully suspended include Houston Intercontinental, Los Angeles, and Osaka Kansai. The airline's current schedule shows a May 1 return date for those routes, but aviation analysts consider that a placeholder rather than a firm restart.

Are Emirates and flydubai flying normally from DXB today?

Both are operating, though not at their pre-crisis capacity. Emirates is serving around 127 destinations. flydubai is back above 100 routes. Check your specific flight at emirat.es/flightstatus or flydubai.com within an hour of leaving for the airport.

What are the Emirates rebooking terms as of April 2026?

Customers booked to travel between February 28 and April 30 can rebook to the same destination by June 15 at no extra cost, or request a full refund at emirates.com. If you booked through a travel agent, contact them directly — Emirates cannot process those changes on their end.

Has the UAE residency grace period ended?

Yes. The grace period that allowed holders of lapsed UAE residency visas to return without penalty expired on March 31, 2026. Standard immigration rules are back in full effect as of April 1. If your UAE residency documentation has lapsed, address it before traveling.

Which major international airlines are still suspended to Dubai in April?

British Airways and Lufthansa Group through May 31. KLM through May 17. United Airlines through June 15. Air Canada, Philippine Airlines, and Cathay Pacific through April 30. Wizz Air through mid-September. Air France and Turkish Airlines are in a gray zone — both expected to restart imminently but with no confirmed dates as of this morning.

How do I get to Dubai Airport without a car today?

The Dubai Metro's Red Line connects directly to DXB and is running normally. Taxis are available. Roads have largely recovered from the March flooding. Allow extra time regardless of how you're traveling — security inside the airport is still slower than usual.