LONDON- British Airways (BA) has suspended a long-haul flight from London Heathrow (LHR) to Abu Dhabi (AUH) due to concerns with the Boeing 787 Dreamliner.
The airline, which only resumed the service in April following a four-year pandemic-induced break, blamed ongoing reliability concerns with the Rolls-Royce Trent engines that power its Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft.
British Airways Suspends Abu Dhabi Flights
British Airways, which now operates a daily service to Abu Dhabi, will suspend flights between March 30 and October 25, 2025.
This stoppage contrasts dramatically with the airline’s Dubai (DXB) operations, which continue to operate up to three flights per day utilizing various widebody aircraft, including the Airbus A380 superjumbo.
The London-based carrier has provided more information on a page titled ‘AUH Summer 2025 Route Suspension – 17 December 2024.’ Customers have two main rebooking alternatives.
British Airways permits passengers who booked trips between March 30th and October 25th, 2025 to rebook seats on alternate flights operated by BA to Dubai, UAE.
Alternatively, passengers can rebook with partner airlines Etihad (EY) or Qatar Airways (QR), with travel dates limited to 14 days from the original ticket. Remember that Qatar Airways (QR) flies to Doha (DOH) and Etihad (EY) to Abu Dhabi.
Key rebooking provisions include:
- Ability to alter origin/destination from LHR to LGW or AUH to DXB.
- Rerouting alternatives through Doha (DOH) or Dubai (DXB).
- Rebooking for the lowest available seat in the same or lower cabin class
- Full reimbursements are granted for canceled flights under ordinary terms of carriage.
Redemption ticket holders can rebook to Etihad or Qatar Airways in redemption classes, or to British Airways via Dubai in the lowest available cabin.
Travel agents can self-manage rebookings through the Global Distribution System (GDS) by following the instructions. British Airways warns that entrance and transit restrictions may vary, so travelers should check current travel conditions.
787 Grounding Affecting Long-Haul Ops
The airline first attempted to keep its flying schedule by increasing operations on older Boeing 777 planes. However, continued engine dependability worries have forced the airline to devote dedicated repair time to these jets, affecting its existing route network.
British Airways stopped two critical routes connecting London Heathrow to Bahrain (BAH) and Kuwait (KWI) in November, citing technical issues with the Dreamliner. Responding to public criticism, the airline has partially reversed the Bahrain route suspension, committing to a limited three-weekly service during the summer of 2025.
The airline’s network reconfiguration goes beyond the Middle East. British Airways will terminate operations to Dallas Fort Worth (DFW) in March 2025, with American Airlines (AA), its transatlantic joint venture partner, taking the route’s capacity.
Simultaneously, the carrier is severely cutting flight frequency to Miami (MIA), having already canceled its Beijing (PEK) route and reduced flights to Hong Kong (HKG).
Passenger Remarks
One tourist posted on Reddit that they received word of a canceled flight to Abu Dhabi in August 2025, which presents an urgent logistical difficulty. With contact lines unavailable and an urgent need for resolution, the passenger tactically requested a refund and rebooked to Dubai.
The passenger opted for Club Suites rather than the initial Club World seats.
British Airways must lawfully transport passengers to their desired destinations, regardless of reward flight availability. This regulation ensures that travelers’ fundamental transportation rights are protected during route disruptions.