Hundreds of Thousands of Travellers Stranded as Airspace Closures Disrupt Middle East Flights
The ongoing military actions by the US and Israel against Iran have led to significant disruptions in air travel across the Middle East and beyond, affecting hundreds of thousands of travellers. As of Sunday, numerous countries in the region have closed their airspace, halting operations at three major airports that serve as critical links between Europe, Africa, and Asia.
In response to the escalating situation, the UK government is preparing for one of its largest evacuation efforts in history. Over 76,000 British citizens have registered in the affected areas, a number that is anticipated to increase.
Airspace Closures Impacting Travel
Air travel has been severely impacted as Israel, Qatar, Syria, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, and Bahrain have all closed their airspace. This has resulted in many travellers being stranded or rerouted to alternative airports. The United Arab Emirates has also announced a “temporary and partial closure” of its airspace, leading to the shutdown of airports in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Qatar. This closure has resulted in the cancellation of thousands of flights by major airlines, including British Airways and Virgin Atlantic. Dubai International Airport, known as the busiest airport for international traffic, has been particularly affected.
Flight tracking service Flightradar24 reported that the closure of Iranian airspace has been extended until at least 8:30 AM UK time on Tuesday. The disruption has left many passengers in limbo, particularly those in the UAE, where the majority of the 76,000 British citizens are believed to be holidaymakers rather than residents.
Evacuation Plans and Travel Warnings
The UK government has advised citizens to adhere to local instructions, especially regarding sheltering in place. Various options for evacuation are being considered, which could involve complex logistical arrangements. The Foreign Office has issued a travel advisory against all travel to Iran, Israel, and Palestine, while recommending against all but essential travel to the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, and Bahrain. Additional precautions have been advised for those in Jordan, Oman, Syria, Lebanon, Yemen, and Iraq due to heightened regional tensions.
Henry Harteveldt, an airline industry analyst, emphasized the uncertainty surrounding travel plans, stating that travellers should prepare for delays and cancellations in the coming days. John Strickland, a UK-based aviation analyst, noted the complexity of the situation, affecting not just passengers but also crews and aircraft.
Flight Cancellations Across Major Airlines
Numerous airlines have suspended flights to and from the Middle East as a result of the ongoing conflict. Air India has cancelled all flights to Middle Eastern destinations, while Turkish Airlines has suspended services to Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Iran, and Jordan. US carriers Delta Air Lines and United Airlines have also halted flights to Tel Aviv through the weekend.
KLM has cancelled services to Dubai, Dammam, and Riyadh until Thursday, and Lufthansa has suspended flights to and from Tel Aviv, Beirut, and Oman. Other airlines, including Air France, Transavia, and Virgin Atlantic, have similarly adjusted their flight schedules, with some avoiding airspace over Iraq altogether.
The Impact of Retaliatory Strikes
Major international airports in the region have also become targets of Iranian retaliatory strikes. Dubai International Airport and the Burj Al Arab hotel sustained damage, resulting in injuries. An incident at Zayed International Airport in Abu Dhabi led to one death and several injuries, although the airport later deleted the post regarding the incident.
The three major airlines operating in the region—Emirates, Qatar Airways, and Etihad—typically handle about 90,000 passengers daily. All three airlines have suspended flights due to the ongoing situation. More than 3,400 flights were cancelled across seven major airports in the Middle East on Sunday alone.
Ongoing Developments
As the situation evolves, it remains unclear how long the disruptions to flights will last. Airlines are urging passengers to check flight statuses online before heading to the airport. Data from Cirium indicated that 24 out of 56 flights scheduled to depart from Heathrow to Middle Eastern destinations were cancelled on Sunday, with some airlines offering waivers for rebooking without additional fees.
The airspace closures are further complicated by ongoing conflicts in the region, including tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan, which may restrict available flight corridors even more.
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Published on 2026-02-28 12:00:00 • By Editorial Desk
