British Airways appears set to permanently end its London Heathrow–Abu Dhabi route after repeatedly delaying its return amid ongoing security concerns and airspace restrictions in the Middle East.
The airline had planned to resume six weekly flights between London Heathrow (LHR) and Abu Dhabi (AUH) in February 2027 using Boeing 787-9 and 787-10 aircraft. However, Cirium schedule data reported by Simple Flying indicates those flights have now been removed from the schedule.
British Airways has not yet formally confirmed the permanent cancellation.
The route had only returned in April 2024 after a four-year suspension linked to the COVID-19 pandemic. British Airways had served Abu Dhabi for decades, with its history on the route stretching back to the BOAC era.
The latest move comes as several international airlines continue to reassess Middle East operations following prolonged regional conflict, security concerns and airspace restrictions.
United Airlines has delayed its Newark–Dubai service restart until March 2027, while American Airlines does not currently plan to resume its London–Doha service until 2027 at the earliest.
If British Airways does leave the London–Abu Dhabi market, Etihad Airways would become the only carrier operating a direct London–Abu Dhabi connection, with four weekly flights using Airbus A380 and A350 aircraft.
British Airways continues to plan the phased return of services to other destinations in the region, including Tel Aviv, Doha, Dubai, Riyadh, Amman and Bahrain.
The changing schedules highlight how geopolitical instability can have a major impact on international airline networks, even on routes that have operated for decades.
