The United States' military involvement in the ongoing Israel-Iran conflict has led to a wave of global travel disruptions, including widespread flight delays and cancellations.
The situation escalated after U.S. President Donald Trump ordered strikes on three Iranian nuclear and military sites over the weekend. In response, Iran launched missile attacks on the U.S. Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar on Monday. Shortly before that, Qatar closed its airspace, while the U.S. and UK issued shelter-in-place advisories to their citizens in the Gulf nation.
Tensions have soared across the region since Israel initiated a surprise attack on Iran earlier this month, which sparked retaliatory missile and drone strikes from Tehran. The latest U.S. airstrikes further inflamed the volatile situation.
Middle East Air Travel Hit Hardest
Flight cancellations and airport closures have severely disrupted operations in the Middle East. Qatar Airways suspended its services due to the closure of the country’s airspace. The airline said it was coordinating with authorities to assist affected passengers and warned of possible delays even after resuming flights.
Extra ground support was deployed at Hamad International Airport and other regional hubs.
Emirates Airlines halted all flights to Iran and Iraq — including Baghdad and Basra — through June 30. Some other flights were rerouted using alternative air routes away from conflict zones. Delays are expected.
Etihad Airways, based in Abu Dhabi, suspended flights to Tel Aviv until July 15 and canceled multiple regional connections, including flights to Kuwait, Doha, Dammam, and Muscat for Monday and Tuesday.
Gulf Air, the national carrier of Bahrain, extended its suspension of flights to Jordan through June 27. The airline emphasized it was prioritizing passenger and crew safety and is closely monitoring the regional situation.
Global Airlines Also Affected
Airlines outside the region have also been impacted. Singapore Airlines canceled several Dubai-bound flights through Wednesday, citing heightened security risks in the Middle East. British Airways also suspended its flights to and from Doha, stating safety remains its top priority.
Air India halted all operations to the affected region as well as transatlantic routes to and from Europe and North America. Flights bound for India are being rerouted to avoid restricted airspace. The airline, still reeling from a recent crash that killed over 270 people, has had 25 flight cancellations as of 0600 GMT Tuesday.
According to FlightAware data, there were 243 cancellations globally by Tuesday morning. Dubai International Airport saw the highest number of cancellations, with 26 departures and arrivals scrapped by early Tuesday.
Philippine Airlines also canceled several flights to Doha, Dubai, and Riyadh for Tuesday, along with one scheduled for Doha on Wednesday. Japan Airlines was forced to recall a Tokyo–Doha flight midair and suspended all services to Doha through June 27.
Qatar Airways canceled a Tuesday flight from Hong Kong to Doha. Meanwhile, Hong Kong-based Cathay Pacific said its operations remained unaffected as its routes avoid airspaces over Israel, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Jordan, and Lebanon.
Safety Remains Top Concern
Experts say airspace closures and rerouted flights are essential to maintaining safety during escalating geopolitical tensions. Hassan Shahidi, president and CEO of the Flight Safety Foundation, said, “Qatar made the right call by closing its airspace given the immediate threat.”
Flightradar24 also reported temporary closure of UAE airspace on Monday. Flights began resuming a few hours later.
Ian Petchenik, communications director at Flightradar24, described Monday as another significant increase in aviation disruption and noted that while the duration of the conflict remains uncertain, the travel industry is prioritizing safety.
Shahidi urged travelers to stay updated through government advisories and emphasized that access to commercial flights is crucial for civilians trying to evacuate conflict zones. He warned of the risks of flying in or near war zones, recalling the tragic downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 over Ukraine in 2014.
“We’re all hoping for a peaceful resolution,” he said. “Above all, protecting civilian air travel must be a top priority. We cannot afford another tragedy like MH17.”