Lufthansa Group has pushed its planned return to Dubai back again. Flights that were due to restart on Oct. 25 will now wait until Nov. 25, 2026, the group says in an updated Middle East operations note.
Lufthansa and SWISS had been set to resume Dubai service on Oct. 25. Eurowings had been set for Nov. 1. All three brands now point to Nov. 25. The group cites the current situation and outlook in the Middle East. Safety of passengers and crew remains the priority, it says, and short-notice route changes can still happen.
Who was supposed to fly when
Before the delay, the winter plan looked like this:
- Lufthansa: up to five weekly flights from Frankfurt and five from Munich to Dubai
- SWISS: daily Zurich–Dubai
- Austrian Airlines: five weekly Vienna–Dubai from Dec. 12, 2026
- Eurowings: daily Berlin–Dubai
At a peak, the group said it would offer up to 28 weekly flights to Dubai across its brands. Eurowings will not operate the Cologne/Bonn and Stuttgart Dubai flights it had listed for winter 2026/27.
What ticket holders should do
If you hold a Lufthansa, SWISS or Eurowings ticket to or from Dubai around the old start dates, watch your booking. The group says affected passengers will be contacted and can rebook flexibly or take a full refund under its usual disruption rules. Do not assume a connection through Dubai will operate as ticketed until you see a confirmed flight number and aircraft.
Dubai International still has a Lufthansa Business Lounge in Terminal 1, Concourse D. That lounge only helps when the airline is actually flying the route again.
How this fits the wider Middle East picture
Lufthansa Group has been restoring Middle East flying in stages. Tel Aviv, Riyadh and Beirut were already back on the map earlier this fall, with Amman also announced. Dubai was meant to be the next big Gulf step for the winter schedule. The Nov. 25 date keeps Dubai in the plan, but a month later than travelers booking for late October expected.
We have tracked other airline pauses and reopenings in our Middle East disruptions guide. Rules on refunds and rebooking differ by ticket type and where you bought the fare. Check the airline app first, then your credit card travel protection if the airline offer is unclear.
Bottom line for travelers
Treat Oct. 25 Lufthansa Group Dubai flights as canceled until the airline confirms a new seat. Nov. 25 is the new target, not a guarantee. If Dubai is only a connection, build in more buffer or reroute through another Gulf hub while the schedule stays soft.
Why Dubai mattered on the winter map
Dubai is not a small add-on for Lufthansa Group. A daily SWISS flight plus double-digit Lufthansa frequencies would have rebuilt a major Gulf hub after months of disruption. Business travelers who used DXB to reach India, East Africa or Southeast Asia on one ticket will feel the delay most. Leisure travelers on Eurowings from Berlin lose a month of peak winter seats as well.
Austrian's Dec. 12 Vienna start was already later than the German and Swiss dates. The Nov. 25 shift does not automatically move Austrian, but anyone booked on a codeshare should confirm the operating carrier. A Lufthansa flight number on a partner metal does not help if Lufthansa itself is not flying.
How to plan around the delay
If your trip is after Nov. 25, keep the booking but set alerts. Schedules in this region have moved more than once this month. If your trip falls between Oct. 25 and Nov. 24, contact the airline now rather than waiting at the airport. Ask for a written rebooking option that avoids a same-day Dubai connection with under three hours on the ground.
Travelers who need a lounge day in Dubai should not count on Lufthansa's DXB lounge until flights resume. Other DXB lounges may still be open through Priority Pass or airline status, but access rules vary by terminal and ticket. Check your boarding pass terminal before you walk to Concourse D.
