Current Flight Disruption Status
Since the conflict began on February 28, air travel across the Middle East has been severely disrupted:
- Over 21,000 flights cancelled across seven major airports including Dubai, Doha, and Abu Dhabi (Flightradar24 data, via CNBC)
- Eight countries closed their airspace when strikes began: Iran, Israel, Iraq, Jordan, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and the UAE (Al Jazeera, Feb 28)
- Major hubs processing ~526,000 passengers daily have faced closures and operational chaos (TIME)
Which Airlines Are Affected
Suspended routes as of March 12:
- Lufthansa Group: Flights to Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Dammam suspended until March 15. Beirut suspended until March 28. Tel Aviv suspended until April 2. Tehran cancelled until April 30.
- Qatar Airways: Most flights to and from Iran suspended until June 30, 2026
- British Airways: Halted regional routes (The National, March 10)
- KLM: Extended Dubai suspension (The National)
How This Affects Travellers Worldwide
If you have a booking:
- Contact your airline directly for rebooking options
- Most airlines are offering free rebooking or refunds for affected routes
- Travel insurance claims should be filed as soon as possible
If you’re planning travel:
- Avoid booking flights to or through the Middle East until the situation stabilizes
- Airlines globally are rerouting — Qantas flights from Perth to London now refuel in Singapore instead of transiting Gulf airspace (CNBC)
- Airfares on alternative routes have increased significantly
Repatriation flights:
- Several countries have organized repatriation flights for citizens stranded in the region (CNN, March 2)
- Check your country’s foreign affairs website for consular assistance
When Will Flights Resume?
There is no firm timeline. Airlines are extending suspensions on a rolling basis as the situation evolves. Industry analysts estimate the $11.7 trillion global travel industry faces significant disruption that could last weeks to months.
Sources: CNBC, TIME, Al Jazeera, The National, CNN, Flightradar24