Airspace disruptions leave Azerbaijani travellers stuck in Dubai

Hundreds of Azerbaijani citizens are currently stranded in Dubai as periodic airspace closures continue amid rising tensions between Iran, Israel, and the United States. The disruptions have led to widespread flight cancellations, leaving many travellers unable to return to Baku.

Several affected individuals contacted the editorial office of Oxu.Az to describe the difficulties they are facing.

According to the stranded passengers, flights from Dubai to Baku are currently operated only by the airline Flydubai, which has significantly driven up ticket prices.

“In recent days, many flights have been cancelled because of the situation in the region. Right now, the only way to return home from Dubai is on Flydubai, and ticket prices have soared to about $1,100–$1,360. Under normal circumstances, tickets for these flights cost around $80–$110. In other words, prices have increased more than tenfold.

Those who manage to secure seats on these flights are forced to pay the full cost out of their own pockets. Meanwhile, those who cannot afford these prices have found themselves in an extremely difficult situation.

About 300 Azerbaijani citizens remain in Dubai. Among them are people whose visas have expired, passengers whose airline tickets were cancelled, and travellers who can no longer afford hotel accommodation and are now in a desperate situation. Some have even been forced to spend the night on the streets.

We contacted the Azerbaijani consulate, where officials are compiling lists of affected citizens. For now, we are waiting for further assistance.

At the same time, we are facing real danger here. Throughout the day, warning notifications repeatedly appear on our phones about the risk of missile strikes,” the stranded citizens said.

By Tamilla Hasanova