British Airways has pulled its Abu Dhabi route from the 2026/27 winter schedule, meaning anyone hoping to fly there direct from the UK is now down to a single airline. The route, which BA traditionally operates only in the winter months, is due to return at the end of next year according to the airline.
The suspension traces back to February, when BA pulled most of its Middle East network at the start of the Iran conflict. Since then, the restart dates have been repeatedly pushed back. Abu Dhabi was left off the recovery plan entirely — and for now, Etihad's Heathrow service is the only direct option from the UK to the UAE capital.
Other destinations are coming back, though slowly and later than promised. Dubai flights were first slated for 25 October, then shifted to 3 November, with one daily flight in winter and two in summer. Riyadh returns the same day at one flight a day. Amman follows on 4 November with four flights a week, and Tel Aviv restarts on 25 October at one a day after being grounded all summer. Doha is already back, but with daily flights halved from two to one. Bahrain stays offline until at least the end of March 2027.
There's a small silver lining for affected passengers. Anyone booked to or from Abu Dhabi, Amman, Bahrain, Doha, Dubai, Tel Aviv or Riyadh on or before 31 October can claim a full refund — even if their flight is still scheduled to operate.
For travellers, the practical takeaway is that the whole Gulf and Levant network is thinner than usual for the next year. If Abu Dhabi is your destination, Etihad is essentially your only direct route from the UK, so prices and availability may reflect that. Expect limited frequency on every BA Middle East route through the winter, and build flexibility into any booking — the restart dates have already slipped more than once.