Kenya Airways Announces Repatriation Flights Between Nairobi and Dubai After Partial Airspace Reopening

Kenya Airways has announced special repatriation flights between Nairobi and Dubai after authorities in the United Arab Emirates permitted limited operations at Dubai International Airport.

In a customer advisory issued on March 4, the airline says it will operate a flight from Nairobi to Dubai on March 4, followed by a return service from Dubai to Nairobi on March 5. The flights are not part of the normal commercial schedule.

The airline describes the services as repatriation flights, meaning they are specifically arranged to return citizens and legal residents to their country of residence after being stranded by the recent airspace disruption. In this case, the Nairobi to Dubai service is intended for United Arab Emirates residents seeking to return, while the Dubai to Nairobi service will carry Kenyan citizens back home.

Kenya Airways indicates that the flights are limited to eligible passengers and will operate under approvals granted by the UAE aviation authorities. It does not confirm a full resumption of the route.

The announcement follows the partial reopening of Dubai’s airspace after a temporary suspension linked to heightened tensions in the Middle East. During the closure, several international carriers were forced to suspend operations to and from the UAE.

Kenya Airways had earlier halted its scheduled Nairobi–Dubai flights in response to the restrictions. The latest advisory signals a controlled, temporary arrangement designed to move affected travellers rather than restart regular service.

Passengers currently in Dubai have been advised not to proceed to the airport unless they receive confirmed flight details directly from the airline. Kenya Airways is urging customers to monitor official communication channels and update their contact information through the booking management system to ensure direct notification.

“The safety of our crew and customers remains our highest priority,” the airline says in its statement, while apologising for the inconvenience caused by the disruption.

Despite the repatriation services, normal scheduled flights between Nairobi and Dubai remain suspended until further notice. The airline says it will communicate additional updates once further approvals are granted.

Dubai is a major destination for Kenyan travellers, including migrant workers, business passengers and those connecting to other international routes. The temporary suspension, therefore, left several passengers unable to travel as planned.

Repatriation flights are typically arranged during emergencies, security incidents or sudden airspace closures. They operate outside standard commercial scheduling and are coordinated directly with aviation authorities to facilitate the safe return of affected individuals.

Kenya Airways does not disclose the number of passengers expected to travel on the two services. The airline maintains that further operational decisions will depend on the evolving regulatory situation in the United Arab Emirates.

For now, the carrier’s advisory makes clear that the March 4 and March 5 flights are a short-term measure intended solely to return stranded passengers to their respective countries of residence.