Air France extends Beirut suspension and halts Riyadh and Dubai flights

Disruption overview

Air France has extended the suspension of flights to Rafic Hariri International Airport in Beirut until at least 2 August 2026 and has also paused Paris services to Riyadh and Dubai after a fresh security review. For passengers, that means full cancellations on the affected routes, with the airline contacting customers directly and allowing them to rebook or cancel without extra charges on the affected dates. Because the disruption is linked to external security risks, compensation under EC 261 is unlikely, but you should still be offered rerouting or a refund, plus care and assistance during long delays.

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Disruption details

On 20 July 2026, Air France said it was extending its suspension of flights to and from Beirut and temporarily stopping services between Paris and Riyadh and Paris and Dubai as security conditions worsened across parts of the Middle East.

For passengers, that means full cancellations on the affected routes for the periods announced by the airline. Air France said these services are being fully canceled for the stated windows, rather than running a reduced schedule or partial operation.

The current suspensions cover:

• Flights to and from Rafic Hariri International Airport in Beirut will remain suspended until at least 2 August 2026.

• Paris to Riyadh flights serving King Khalid International Airport are paused through 24 July 2026, with Riyadh to Paris flights suspended through 25 July 2026.

• Paris to Dubai flights serving Dubai International Airport are suspended through 27 July 2026, with Dubai to Paris flights paused through 28 July 2026.

The Beirut route had already been paused earlier this month. Air France widened the measures after a new internal security review pointed to ongoing hostilities between the United States and Iran, along with wider regional instability and tighter airspace restrictions in several countries.

The airline says it is continuing to review the situation, so these dates could still change. Flights could return earlier if conditions improve, or remain suspended for longer if the security picture changes again.

Air France is contacting affected customers directly and has introduced flexible booking waivers. If your ticket falls on the affected dates, you can rebook or cancel without extra charges, and the airline says this flexibility can also apply even where a specific flight sits beyond the current suspension window.

While Air France has not given a figure for the number of flights or passengers affected, these routes are typically operated daily. If the suspensions stay in place for the full period, dozens of round-trips could be lost across Beirut, Riyadh, and Dubai.

No other Air France destinations in the region were included in this update. For now, the airline says it is working with relevant authorities and monitoring airspace notices while keeping passenger and crew safety at the center of its plans.

Because these cancellations are linked to external security risks rather than something within the airline's control, compensation under EC 261 is unlikely. But that doesn't mean you're without support. If your trip is disrupted, you should still be offered rerouting or a refund, as well as food and drinks during long waits, hotel accommodation and transport if you're stranded overnight, and help with communication where needed.

If you're unsure what applies to your booking, AirHelp's free flight checker is a simple way to review your options and better understand your rights.

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