Singapore, March 20, 2026 — Global travel continues to take a massive hit as the geopolitical crisis in the Middle East escalates. Citing the volatile security situation stemming from the ongoing conflict in West Asia, Singapore Airlines (SIA) has officially announced the extended suspension of its direct flight operations to and from Dubai until April 30, 2026.
The flagship carrier had previously halted the route until March 28 but was forced to push the restart date back by another month as the war involving Iran, Israel, and the US shows no signs of de-escalating.
Which Flights Are Affected?
In its latest official travel advisory, SIA confirmed that the following daily services have been entirely scrubbed from the schedule through the end of April:
SQ494: Departing Singapore (SIN) for Dubai (DXB)
SQ495: Departing Dubai (DXB) for Singapore (SIN)
The airline issued an apology for the severe disruptions and issued a stark warning that “as the situation remains fluid, other SIA flights may be affected” in the coming weeks. Low-cost subsidiary Scoot has also canceled several Middle East routes, including its flights to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
What Should Passengers Do?
If you hold a ticket for the canceled Singapore-Dubai route, here are your immediate options:
Re-accommodation: Where possible, affected customers will be automatically rebooked on alternative partner airlines to reach their destination.
Full Refunds: Passengers can opt out of alternative travel and claim a 100% refund for the unused portion of their tickets.
How to Claim: Customers who booked directly via the SIA website or app can use the online ‘Assistance Request Form’. Those who booked through third-party travel agents or partner airlines must contact their respective booking agents directly to process the refund.
Singapore Airlines strongly advises all international passengers to update their contact details via the ‘Manage Booking’ portal to receive real-time SMS or email alerts regarding sudden schedule changes.
Capacity Shift: A380s Head to Melbourne
With the Dubai route on ice, Singapore Airlines is pivoting its massive aircraft assets to capture the upcoming northern summer travel demand. The iconic double-decker Airbus A380—which was slated to fly the Dubai route—will now replace a Boeing 777-300ER on the Singapore-Melbourne route to meet surging passenger volumes in Australia. Additionally, the carrier is adding extra weekly flights to London’s Gatwick Airport to maximize fleet utility during the Middle East airspace closures.
