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British Airways drops Abu Dhabi flights for Summer 2025

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British Airways seems to be dropping Abu Dhabi flights for the summer season next year, which runs from the end of March to the end of October.

This could be a little embarrassing because there is an ‘Avios only’ flight due to depart on 18th April (Good Friday) and returning on Saturday 26th April.

Or at least there WAS an ‘Avios only’ flight running ….

British Airways cancels Abu Dhabi flights summer 2025

The timing is unfortunate. Most schools will break up for Easter on either Friday 28th March or Friday 4th April and return on Tuesday 22nd April.

I would suspect that the Abu Dhabi flights are very full over this period and it may be a squeeze to move everyone onto Dubai services. Qatar Airways is an option but hubbing via Doha is a pain given that Etihad and Abu Dhabi can get you into the region directly.

Has the curse of the 787 struck again?

British Airways returned to Abu Dhabi on 20th April 2024 after a four year break. It is a route operated by a Boeing 787 which is probably the reason for the cancellation.

This is the statement that British Airways put out when the Kuala Lumpur route was cancelled:

We’re disappointed that we’ve had such to make further changes to our schedule as we continue to experience delays to the delivery of engines and parts from Rolls-Royce – particularly in relation to the Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engines fitted to our 787 aircraft.

We’ve taken this action because we do not believe the issue will be solved quickly, and we want to offer our customers the certainty they deserve for their travel plans. We’ve apologised to those affected and are able to offer the vast majority a flight the same day with British Airways or one of our partner airlines. 

We continue to work closely with Rolls-Royce to ensure the company is aware of the impact its issues are having on our schedule and customers, and seek reassurance of a prompt and reliable solution.

As it happens, Kuala Lumpur is due to finally launch on 1st April. It is possible that British Airways is having to cancel Abu Dhabi to free up an aircraft.

What are you rebooking options?

British Airways has (added on Tuesday afternoon) now released rebooking guidelines – click here.

You can either:

  • rebook onto a British Airways flight to Dubai on ANY date, which could be handy
  • rebook onto an Etihad flight to Abu Dhabi within 14 days of your BA flight date
  • rebook onto a Qatar Airways flight to Abu Dhabi via Doha within 14 days of your BA flight date

In theory BA should give you Avios and tier points if you choose Etihad, although it will need chasing up. If you want a change from British Airways you can take your pick from two excellent airlines, although I’m not sure I would want to be spending time changing planes in Doha if I had a choice.

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Category

British Airways and Avios

Comments (73)

This article is closed to new comments. Feel free to ask your question in the HfP forums.

  • RC says:
    17 Dec17 December 14:39

    BA uses the 787/Trent excuse for anything now.
    It’s just cover.
    If they’re so short why are they adding frequency to Nairobi…. On a 787 they have spare to do this.
    A little honesty and less PR spin would be helpful. Every time they spin like this, BA’s credibility drops another notch.

    • Catalan says:
      17 Dec17 December 15:53

      Perhaps there’s more demand to/from Nairobi than there is for Abu Dhabi during that time period?
      It may be simple economics and operational planning. Who knows? I’m sure BA do.

      • RC says:
        17 Dec17 December 16:46

        That’s not the point. The point is the spin out on this by BA.
        The attempt to use lack of 787 as an excuse is the point.
        Just a more honest ‘due to low demand’ would be better. (And understandable- who is going to choose BA and its tired 787 club product and dreadful food when better options exist?)

        • Catalan says:
          17 Dec17 December 18:07

          Again that’s your personal opinion. I’ve not read anything in the article where the ‘spin’ has been used for the summer suspension of AUH. The spin as you call it was given as the reason for the disruption to the KUL service.
          I do understand your frustration though especially when people still “choose BA and its tired 787 club product and dreadful food when better options exist”

    • newyorkvisitor says:
      21 Dec21 December 22:05

      My guess it’s only a matter of time ( if it has not happened already) before BA files a massive lawsuit against Rolls Royce.

  • Mark says:
    17 Dec17 December 14:43

    The rebooking rules are now on Flyertalk and include the Etihad option.

    • BA Flyer IHG Stayer says:
      17 Dec17 December 15:39

      They are also available in a post on page 2 and someone posted them in the forum as well

    • Ruby says:
      18 Dec18 December 14:28

      Hi, I had used my companion voucher for this flight and do not have any options showing in manage my booking to book alternative flights. Is this because I used a companion voucher? Any advice on what I should do?

      • Rob says:
        18 Dec18 December 16:06

        Ring up. You have the same rebooking rights as a cash customer or an Avios customer not using a voucher.

        • Jim says:
          18 Dec18 December 17:59

          With the companion voucher they have said I can not use the direct Etihad option. Only go to Dubai or via Doha. Is this correct?

          • Rob says:
            18 Dec18 December 19:00

            Wording is ‘Yes – can be rebooked onto EY/QR into redemption classes only, or onto BA via DXB in lowest available in cabin’ so you may Etihad to have reward seats.

          • Ruby says:
            19 Dec19 December 22:51

            Did you get a response from them? I am planning to call tomorrow. Hoping to get rebooked on direct flight.

  • chris w says:
    17 Dec17 December 17:24

    Were many people going to Abu Dhabi in summer though

    • Rob says:
      17 Dec17 December 17:33

      You’d be surprised. With Spain etc now hitting 40 degrees in August if you’re unlucky, a surprisingly large number of people are deciding that paying substantially less than Spain / Greece / Portugal prices for a substantially higher standard of accommodation and facilities (but with 45 degree heat so you need to hide indoors between 10 and 2) is a decent trade off. Wouldn’t do it myself though!

      • yonasl says:
        17 Dec17 December 19:05

        You don’t end up in jail for fooling around in Spain thou.

        • TGLoyalty says:
          17 Dec17 December 19:10

          Depends if they’re underage. Not everyone’s laws are like your own.

          It’s like complaining you can’t legally drink at 18 in USA.

        • George says:
          18 Dec18 December 07:34

          If you go to a country you need to follow their rules

          • Callum says:
            18 Dec18 December 12:44

            Indeed. Though as much as the fanclub of Middle East dictators on here (commenters, not Rob etc) like to try to silence it, you’re still allowed to criticise or complain about it…

        • KEVIN says:
          18 Dec18 December 08:01

          Maybe they should, It will stop all the drunk and disorderly throwing up everywhere and ruining the place.

      • meta says:
        17 Dec17 December 19:27

        It can easily hit 50+ in summer in Abu Dhabi and it does not ease until after sunset. Remember also that all air temperatures are measured in the shade not in the sun. So basically you are confined to staying indoors from early morning till sunset not just 10am to 2pm.

        • RC says:
          18 Dec18 December 00:24

          And also the humidity in the Gulf summer is what catches people. It’s not dry heat but like being in a steam oven.

        • newyorkvisitor says:
          21 Dec21 December 22:07

          I lived in the UAE from 1984 to 1988 and I’d not go there on a summer break. Go in winter when it can be a perfect temperature. If hotels are cheaper in summer, you know why ….

  • Mark H says:
    18 Dec18 December 16:35

    BA has set itself a challenge for Summer 2025 with a load of USA route enhancements which they now look less likely to get new 787-10s delivered for, the Club Suite programme has slipped even further behind there is an issue (like it or not) with RR Trent engines on 787s.

    I think BA has worked out that it’s better sticking to the US enhancements and thinning out other routes – especially ones which might not be the best performers in the Summer.

    BA must seriously regret where it has ended up with its fleet strategy – not ordering more 777-300ERs, scrapping the 747 instead of storing them and failing to order more A350s. Combine this with the disastrous B777-X delivery programme and the substantial challenges in getting Club Suites fitted and BA has a serious issue in that it is turning away good revenue due to a shortage of suitable long haul aircraft.

    Imagine if BA had kept the twelve youngest 747-400s (which were two years younger than the oldest 777-236) – maybe even upgraded them to Club Suites. They could have avoided large numbers of cancellations, started routes with a good business case much quicker and had more capacity on many existing routes.

    It’s hard to see this position getting much better in less than 3-4 years.

  • Lafy London says:
    18 Dec18 December 20:27

    I suppose Abu Dhabi can also always be flown by the shareholder with quite a big chunk of BA/IAG i.e. Qatar Airways?

  • SS says:
    20 Dec20 December 16:10

    What happens if my flight is downgraded to Economy Etihad from BA premium (world traveller plus)? Are they obligated to calculate a refund? The agent did suggest a refund will come but only be calculated after the flight is complete, which sounded incorrect. Then again they didn’t even know initially about the reroute options…

    • Rob says:
      20 Dec20 December 16:34

      You should move to Dubai if you want PE. As you will VOLUNTARILY be accepting a flight with no PE where a viable alternative has been offered, you can’t expect much as compensation.

This article is closed to new comments. Feel free to ask your question in the HfP forums.

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