FedEx has secured temporary approval from the US Department of Transportation to bypass its mandatory Dubai stop on flights operating between Hong Kong and Paris amid rising geopolitical tensions. The decision comes after prolonged airspace disruptions and military activity in the region impacted aviation operations and created safety concerns around FedEx’s major Dubai logistics hub. Under existing aviation rules, the carriers risk losing route rights if operations remain inactive for 90 days. The waiver, valid through 25 October, gives FedEx operational flexibility. Currently, the company operates six weekly Hong Kong–Paris cargo flights, with only one typically routed through Dubai. In a separate move, US regulators also extended FedEx’s authority for Boeing 777 cargo services connecting the USA with South Africa through Dubai, Nairobi, or Europe for two more years.
