Europe’s Air Safety Watchdog Is Grounding Its Own Airlines — and Dubai Carriers Are Winning

While Emirates and flydubai build their share of Dubai-Europe routes, Lufthansa, Air France, and KLM can’t compete for now. The reason is a single document: the European Union Aviation Safety Agency’s (EASA) Conflict Zone Information Bulletin for the Middle East and Persian Gulf, which was extended until May 27. Until EASA modifies or lifts it, European carriers cannot fly Gulf routes — and their war-risk insurers won’t cover them regardless of what the UAE’s own regulator says.

“EASA sees the possibility of conflict as an unacceptable risk for airlines,” said Saj Ajmad, chief analyst at Strategic Aero Rese