British Airways Scales Back Middle East Service, Shifts Focus to India and Kenya

British Airways will return to several Middle Eastern cities this summer, but with significantly fewer flights. The airline, which suspended services due to regional conflict, confirmed a pared-down schedule upon resumption. Daily flights to Dubai will drop from three to one starting July 1. Services to Doha, Tel Aviv, and Riyadh will also be halved, from twice daily to once. The carrier will permanently end its route to Jeddah in Saudi Arabia from April 24.

Flights to Riyadh are set to restart in mid-May, with Dubai, Doha, and Tel Aviv services following on July 1. Routes to Bahrain and Amman remain suspended until at least late October. A company statement explained the changes are due to "the ongoing situation in the Middle East," adding they are providing options for affected customers and keeping schedules under review.

The aircraft capacity freed up by these reductions is being redirected. British Airways will increase its focus on India and Kenya. From June 1, larger planes will be used on routes to Delhi and Hyderabad. The airline is also adding extra daily flights to Bengaluru and Nairobi through the summer and into late October. Additional seasonal services to Delhi and Mumbai are also planned, confirming a strategic pivot first noted in industry reports.