Iran Conflict Triggers Widespread Flight Cancellations Across Middle East
The escalating war in Iran is causing massive and ongoing disruption to global air travel, with a growing list of airlines cancelling flights to key Middle Eastern destinations. This crisis has left many passengers stranded and is placing immense strain on carriers worldwide.
Severe Travel Disruption and Soaring Costs
Global air travel is facing severe operational challenges, as the conflict in Iran means numerous passengers remain unable to reach major hubs such as Dubai, Doha, and Abu Dhabi. Compounding the issue, jet fuel prices have doubled since the hostilities began, intensifying financial pressure on airlines. Carriers are also contending with severely restricted airspace, forcing pilots to undertake lengthy and costly reroutes to avoid the volatile region.
Comprehensive List of Airline Cancellations
Below is the latest alphabetical summary of airlines that have cancelled flights to the Middle East due to the ongoing conflict.
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- Aegean Airlines: Greece's largest carrier has cancelled flights to Tel Aviv, Beirut, and Amman until April 22, and to Erbil and Baghdad until May 24. Flights to Dubai are cancelled until April 19 and to Riyadh until April 18.
- airBaltic: The Latvian airline has cancelled all flights to Tel Aviv until April 29 and all flights to Dubai until October 24.
- Air Canada: The Canadian carrier has cancelled all flights to Tel Aviv until May 2 and all flights to Dubai until March 28.
- Air Europa: The Spanish airline has cancelled all flights to Tel Aviv until April 10.
- Air France: The French airline has cancelled Tel Aviv and Beirut flights until April 4, and Dubai and Riyadh flights until March 31, including an April 1 departure from Dubai.
- British Airways: The UK flag carrier has extended cancellations for flights to Amman, Bahrain, Dubai, and Tel Aviv until May 31, and to Doha until April 30. Flights to Abu Dhabi remain suspended until later this year. It has added flights to Bangkok and Singapore to compensate.
- Cathay Pacific: The Hong Kong airline has cancelled all passenger flights to Dubai and Riyadh until May 31. To meet increased demand for Europe, it will operate three extra return flights to Paris and Zurich, and provide additional seats on 13 existing London flights in April.
- Delta Air Lines: The US carrier has cancelled New York to Tel Aviv flights until March 31 and Tel Aviv to New York until April 1. Its Atlanta to Tel Aviv service restart is delayed, with flights to Tel Aviv paused until August 4 and from Tel Aviv until August 5.
- EL AL Israel Airlines: Operations are limited to 15 outbound flights daily, each capped at 50 passengers, with a small number of flights to key destinations.
- Emirates: The UAE airline is operating a reduced schedule following a partial reopening of regional airspace.
- Ethiad Airways: The UAE carrier has resumed a limited commercial flight schedule between Abu Dhabi and several key destinations.
- Finnair: The Finnish carrier has cancelled Dubai flights until March 29 and Doha flights until July 2, continuing to avoid the airspace of Iraq, Iran, Syria, and Israel.
- Flynas: The Saudi Arabian budget airline has extended its suspension of flights to Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Doha, Bahrain, Kuwait, Iraq, and Syria until March 31.
- Indigo: The Indian airline has suspended operations to Doha, Kuwait, Bahrain, Dammam, Fujairah, Ras Al Khaimah, and Sharjah until March 28.
- ITA Airways: The Italian airline has suspended flights to Tel Aviv until April 2 and extended Dubai cancellations until March 29, while avoiding the airspace of Iraq, Iran, Syria, and Israel.
- Japan Airlines: The Japanese carrier has suspended scheduled Tokyo-Doha flights until March 31 and Doha-Tokyo flights until April 1.
- KLM: The Dutch airline has suspended flights to Riyadh, Dammam, and Dubai until May 17 and to Tel Aviv until April 11.
- LOT Polish Airlines: The Polish airline has cancelled all flights to Dubai until March 28 and to Tel Aviv until May 31. It has also cancelled flights to Riyadh until April 30 and to Beirut from March 31 to April 30.
- Lufthansa Group: Lufthansa, Swiss, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, ITA Airways, and Edelweiss have suspended flights to Dubai and Tel Aviv until May 31, and to Abu Dhabi, Amman, Beirut, Dammam, Riyadh, Erbil, Muscat, and Tehran until October 24. Lufthansa Cargo follows suit, except its Tel Aviv suspension lasts through April 30. Eurowings plans to suspend flights to Tel Aviv, Beirut, and Erbil through April 30 and to Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Amman through October 24.
- Malaysia Airlines: The Malaysian carrier has suspended all flights to Doha until April 15.
- Norwegian Air: The low-cost airline has delayed planned launches of its Tel Aviv and Beirut services to June 15, from April 1 and April 4 respectively. It has cancelled all Dubai flights through April 8.
- Pegasus Airlines: The Turkish airline has cancelled flights to Iran, Iraq, Amman, Beirut, Kuwait, Bahrain, Doha, Dammam, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah until April 13. Flights to Riyadh are cancelled until April 1.
- Singapore Airlines: The carrier has extended the suspension of its Singapore-Dubai flights until April 30. It is adding services on the Singapore-London Gatwick and Singapore-Melbourne routes from late March until October 24 to meet higher demand.
- Qatar Airways: The carrier will operate a revised, limited number of flights until March 28.
- Turkish Airlines: The airline has cancelled most Middle East flights until the end of March. SunExpress, its joint venture with Lufthansa, has cancelled flights to Dubai until April 6 and to Bahrain until April 30.
- Wizz Air: The low-cost airline has suspended flights to Israel until March 29, and to Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Amman, and Jeddah from mainland European destinations until mid-September.
The situation remains fluid, with airlines continuously reassessing their schedules based on security advisories and airspace availability. Passengers are urged to check directly with their airlines for the latest updates and potential rebooking options.
