Dubai International Airport (DXB), the world’s busiest hub for international passengers, gradually resumed flights on March 16 after a drone struck a fuel tank near the airport in the early hours, triggering a fire and a seven-hour suspension of all operations.
Emirates restarted a limited flight schedule after 10am local time, having cancelled some services during the longest shutdown since Dubai reopened air corridors three days into the war.
The Dubai Civil Aviation Authority suspended flights at 6.30am as a precautionary measure. No injuries were reported and authorities said the situation was brought under control.
Al Maktoum International Airport in Jebel Ali served as the primary diversion point, receiving several long-haul Emirates and flydubai flights. An Emirates service from Perth was diverted to Abu Dhabi.
It was the third time since February 28 that a drone had reached the airport perimeter. The repeated incidents have complicated efforts by Gulf carriers to restore normal schedules.
British Airways, Lufthansa Group, Air France, KLM, Cathay Pacific, Singapore Airlines, Finnair and Virgin Atlantic have all suspended Dubai services through late March or beyond, citing airspace safety and war-risk insurance.
Qatar Airways said it was resuming a limited schedule but Dubai was not among its initial destinations. The carrier plans to restart Doha-Dublin services from March 20 with four flights per week.
Around 500,000 passengers per day normally use airports in Dubai, Doha and Abu Dhabi, which serve as key transit hubs linking Europe with Asia and Australia, Dubai Airports said.