British Airways Cancels Middle East Flights Amid Regional Airspace Closures
British Airways has cancelled flights to Tel Aviv, Bahrain, and Amman, with passengers offered free changes or refunds, as travellers are warned they may need to 'get creative' amid mass disruption. The cancellations come as airspace closures across the Middle East have led to widespread chaos, particularly at Dubai International Airport.
Widespread Airspace Closures Cause Travel Chaos
Israel, Qatar, Syria, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, and Bahrain have all closed their airspaces, resulting in a significant shutdown of crucial hub airports in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Doha. Flight tracking website FlightRadar24 recorded no flight activity over the United Arab Emirates, with the UAE government announcing a 'temporary and partial closure' of its airspace.
This has led to the scrapping of over 1,000 flights by leading Middle Eastern carriers, according to reports. The three principal airlines operating from those airports - Emirates, Qatar Airways, and Etihad - typically handle approximately 90,000 passengers daily through those hubs, with even greater numbers of travellers bound for Middle Eastern destinations, according to aviation analytics firm Cirium. Dubai International Airport ranks as the world's busiest airport for international flights.
Expert Warns of Prolonged Disruption
Aviation industry analyst and president of Atmosphere Research Group Henry Harteveldt cautioned travellers via AP: 'For travellers, there's no way to sugarcoat this... you should prepare for delays or cancellations for the next few days as these attacks evolve and hopefully end.'
He added: 'Travellers should anticipate that there will be a lot of disruptions. To be honest, if you haven't left home, chances are you won't be leaving home if you're supposed to travel to or through these destinations for at least several days, if not longer. And if you are returning home, you will have to be very creative about how you get home.'
British Airways Issues Official Statement
BA released an official statement on its website late on Saturday (February 28) for passengers who may be affected by the rapidly developing situation in the Middle East. The statement read: 'We are closely monitoring the situation and have cancelled a number of our flights to the Middle East. Safety is always our top priority and we would never operate a flight unless it was safe to do so.'
The airline confirmed that flights to Tel Aviv and Bahrain will remain suspended until next week, whilst flights to Amman, Jordan, were scrapped on Saturday. Passengers due to fly between London Heathrow and Abu Dhabi, Amman, Bahrain, Doha, Dubai, or Tel Aviv can change their flight free of charge up to and including 6 March. Customers travelling up to and including 4 March may also request a full refund.
Background of Regional Tensions
BA's statement comes as airlines serving the Middle East cancelled or diverted flights en masse on Saturday in the wake of US and Israeli airstrikes against Iran. Iran hit back by launching a wave of attacks, targeting Israel and four Gulf Arab nations hosting US military bases - Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, and the UAE.
British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, and Wizz Air were amongst the carriers to reduce their schedules to Middle Eastern destinations, citing safety concerns. The UK Foreign Office urged British nationals in Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to immediately shelter in place following explosions.
Foreign Office Guidance for Britons
For any Britons currently in the UAE, the Foreign Office released new guidance overnight. All citizens already present in the UAE are strongly encouraged to notify the UK government by registering their presence to receive further updates as the situation continues to develop across the Middle East.
The guidance stated: 'Due to reported missile attacks, British nationals in the UAE should immediately shelter in place. Remain indoors in a secure location, avoid all travel and follow instructions from the local authorities.' The FDCO also advised British nationals in the UAE to take sensible precautions, taking into account their own personal circumstances.
