Thousands of flights worldwide have been delayed or cancelled following escalating tensions in the Middle East after U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran and subsequent Iranian missile strikes on Gulf capitals. Aviation authorities across the region, including Iran, Iraq, Israel, Syria, Kuwait, and the UAE, implemented partial or full airspace closures, triggering the largest disruption to global air transport since the Covid-19 pandemic.
Major carriers from the Middle East, Europe, Asia-Pacific, North America, and Africa have suspended services, leaving thousands of passengers stranded. Airlines affected include Emirates, Etihad, Air France, British Airways, Air India, Turkish Airlines, Lufthansa, Qatar Airways, EgyptAir, and Kenya Airways.
According to aviation analytics firm Cirium, out of approximately 4,218 flights scheduled to land in Middle Eastern countries on Saturday, 966 (22.9%) were cancelled, with outbound cancellations raising the total to over 1,800. For Sunday, 716 of 4,329 scheduled flights to the region were cancelled. Meanwhile, FlightAware reported that more than 19,000 flights were delayed globally, with over 2,600 cancelled as of early Sunday GMT.
Airspace Closures
- Iran closed its airspace “until further notice.”
- Israel restricted civilian flights, confirmed by Transport Minister Miri Regev.
- Qatar, Iraq, UAE, Syria, Jordan, and Kuwait implemented partial or temporary closures. Jordan’s air force conducted drills to defend its skies.
Regional Airline Disruptions
Middle East carriers:
- Emirates and Etihad cancelled 38% and 30% of flights, respectively.
- Qatar Airways suspended all flights from Doha (41% of total).
- Syria Air halted all flights until further notice.
- EgyptAir suspended flights to Dubai, Doha, Manama, Abu Dhabi, Beirut, and Baghdad.
European carriers:
- Russian flights to Israel and Iran were cancelled indefinitely.
- Turkish Airlines suspended flights to Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Iran, and Jordan until March 2.
- Air France, British Airways, Lufthansa, and Swiss International Air Lines cancelled multiple Middle East routes through early March.
North American carriers:
- Delta, American, United Airlines, and Air Canada suspended flights to Tel Aviv, Dubai, and other Gulf destinations through early March.
Asia-Pacific carriers:
- IndiGo and Air India suspended all Middle East flights.
- Pakistan International Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Garuda Indonesia, Singapore Airlines, Scoot, and Philippine Airlines also suspended multiple routes.
- Qantas and All Nippon Airways have not reported cancellations.
African carriers:
- Ethiopian Airlines and Kenya Airways suspended flights to several Middle Eastern destinations, including Dubai, Sharjah, Tel Aviv, and Beirut.
The widespread cancellations and airspace closures come as a direct response to Iran’s missile strikes and escalating regional instability. Aviation experts warn that continued tensions could prolong disruptions, affecting both passenger travel and commercial cargo networks across the globe.
