By Elsie Kamsiyochi
International air travel descended into chaos on Saturday as airlines around the world suspended flights across the Middle East following coordinated U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran, triggering widespread airspace closures and stranding passengers and crew across multiple continents.
Air traffic monitoring services showed vast stretches of airspace over Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Israel and Bahrain virtually empty within hours of the attacks. Commercial jets diverted around the conflict zone or returned to their departure airports as military exchanges intensified and Iran retaliated with missile launches targeting Israel and Gulf states hosting U.S. forces.
The disruption has affected one of the most critical aviation corridors in the world — the east-west transit route linking Europe and Asia via the Gulf’s mega-hub airports.
Dubai and Gulf Hubs Suspend Operations
Dubai International Airport — the world’s busiest airport for international passengers — suspended operations along with Al Maktoum International Airport, halting traffic through a hub that handled nearly 100 million passengers last year.
Dubai Airports urged travellers not to head to terminals until further notice. Emirates, the city’s flagship carrier, temporarily suspended operations to and from Dubai due to regional airspace closures. Flydubai also halted flights, while Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways suspended departures until Sunday morning and cancelled incoming services scheduled before that time.
Elsewhere in the Gulf, Qatar Airways and Kuwait Airways paused operations, while Oman Air halted flights to Baghdad. Turkish Airlines cancelled services to several Middle Eastern destinations.
Witnesses in Doha, Abu Dhabi and Dubai reported hearing explosions as air defence systems engaged incoming projectiles, adding to uncertainty among airlines already grappling with safety concerns.
Airspace Closures Ripple Worldwide
Authorities in Israel, Iran, Iraq, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait and Jordan closed their airspace shortly after the strikes. Flight tracking data showed aircraft clustering around alternative hubs such as Larnaca in Cyprus, Cairo, Jeddah and Riyadh as pilots sought safe corridors.
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) advised European carriers to avoid affected airspace due to ongoing military operations. Russia’s transport ministry said its airlines had suspended flights to Iran and Israel.
British Airways cancelled services to Tel Aviv and Bahrain until early March and suspended flights to Amman for the weekend. Germany’s Lufthansa halted flights to and from Dubai and suspended routes to Tel Aviv, Beirut and Oman. Air France and Iberia cancelled flights to Tel Aviv and Beirut, while Wizz Air stopped services to Israel, Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Amman.
Asian carriers were also affected. Cathay Pacific and its parent Cathay Group suspended flights to Dubai and Riyadh, including cargo services operating through Al Maktoum. India’s Air India and IndiGo paused flights to parts of the Middle East as regulators prepared for potential diversions.
Preliminary aviation data from Cirium indicated that roughly half of all flights to Qatar and Israel were cancelled on Saturday, along with nearly 30% of flights to Kuwait. In total, about a quarter of all scheduled flights to the Middle East were scrapped.
Passengers and Crews Stranded
At Doha’s Hamad International Airport, departure boards flickered with cancellations as stranded passengers lined up to rebook flights or secure hotel rooms. Similar scenes were reported at other Gulf hubs, where airline staff scrambled to manage disrupted schedules.
“You have crews, planes and passengers stranded all over the world,” a senior source at a Gulf airline said. “It’s a massive logistical nightmare.”
The scale of the disruption reflects the Middle East’s central role in global aviation. Since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine forced airlines to avoid Russian and Ukrainian airspace, Gulf routes have become even more vital for long-haul traffic between Europe and Asia.
Now, with multiple conflict zones active simultaneously, airlines face longer flight paths, higher fuel costs and heightened safety risks.
Economic and Operational Fallout
Beyond passenger inconvenience, the crisis carries significant financial implications. Extended rerouting increases fuel burn and crew hours, raising operating costs at a time when airlines are already managing volatile energy prices and geopolitical uncertainty.
Industry analysts warn that prolonged airspace closures could have cascading effects on supply chains, tourism and cargo transport. The Gulf airports serve as major freight hubs, handling time-sensitive shipments ranging from pharmaceuticals to electronics.
The renewed hostilities follow U.S. and Israeli military strikes on Iranian targets, prompting retaliatory missile fire from Tehran. The intensifying conflict has heightened fears of a broader regional war and led Iran to warn shipping traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial global oil transit chokepoint.
With the security situation evolving rapidly, airlines are preparing contingency plans but remain uncertain about when normal operations can resume.
“Passengers and airlines can expect airspace to remain shut for quite some time,” said aviation security analyst Eric Schouten. “The situation is highly fluid, and the impact on aviation is immediate.”
For now, global travel remains in limbo, as one of the world’s busiest air corridors has effectively been switched off overnight — leaving aircraft grounded, schedules upended and travellers stranded far from home.
Source: Reuters
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