At least 17 Flydubai flights scheduled for Friday between Dubai and key Iranian cities, including Tehran, Shiraz, and Mashhad, have been cancelled amid escalating nationwide protests and a sweeping internet blackout in Iran.
According to the Dubai Airports website, multiple outbound and inbound Flydubai flights to Iran were abruptly cancelled, raising concerns among travelers and highlighting growing regional disruptions linked to unrest in the Islamic Republic.
The cancellations coincided with a near-total nationwide internet shutdown in Iran beginning Thursday and continuing into Friday. The blackout, reportedly imposed by Iranian authorities, aims to hinder the flow of information and suppress expanding anti-government demonstrations.
Widespread protests erupted in late December, triggered by worsening economic conditions, soaring inflation, and deepening hardship faced by ordinary Iranians. The unrest has since spread across multiple cities, prompting a heavy-handed government response.
A Flydubai spokesperson confirmed the cancellations on Friday but declined to specify the exact reasons, stating the airline would “continue to monitor the situation” and adjust its schedule as necessary.
Flight disruptions were not limited to Flydubai. Turkish media reported that Turkish Airlines cancelled at least 17 flights to Iran on Friday, while Turkey’s Ajet cancelled six flights, and budget carrier Pegasus Airlines also suspended several routes to Iranian cities.
Additionally, at least two flights between Doha, Qatar, and Tehran were cancelled Friday, according to Hamad International Airport’s website.
These widespread cancellations underscore the broader impact of Iran’s unrest on international travel and regional connectivity.
