Thousands of Flights Cancelled as Middle East Airspace Shuts Down

Dubai (TDI): The escalating conflict between the United States and Iran has caused major disruption to global air travel, with thousands of flights cancelled or rerouted as airspace across the Middle East remains largely closed.

Major transit hubs, including Dubai International Airport, Abu Dhabi, and Hamad International Airport, have faced closures or severe operational restrictions following US and Israeli strikes that killed Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Explosions and attacks were reported near Dubai and Doha, as Iran launched retaliatory strikes on neighboring Gulf states. Some airports, including Dubai International, sustained damage, further compounding the disruption.

Analysts warn that the Middle East airspace closures have significant knock-on effects for global aviation. Routes that previously relied on Iranian and Iraqi airspace, already avoided due to the Russia-Ukraine conflict, are now inaccessible, forcing longer flight paths and raising operational costs.

Airspace over Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Israel, Bahrain, the UAE, and Qatar remains virtually empty, according to flight-tracking services, with airlines across Europe, Asia, and the Middle East forced to cancel or reroute flights.

Among the affected carriers, Aegean Airlines suspended flights to Tel Aviv, Beirut, and Erbil until March 2. Air Canada cancelled flights to Israel until March 8 and Dubai until March 3.

Air France-KLM’s flights to Tel Aviv, Beirut, Dubai, Dammam, and Riyadh cancelled through the weekend. British Airways’ flights to Tel Aviv, Bahrain, and Amman cancelled until March 3.

Emirates and Etihad’s operations from Dubai and Abu Dhabi suspended until mid-March 2. Qatar Airways temporarily halted flights to and from Doha. Turkish Airlines, Virgin Atlantic, Wizz Air, Lufthansa, LOT Polish Airlines, Japan Airlines, Pegasus, Air India, ITA Airways, and other carriers have also suspended or rerouted flights through the region.