Global air travel continues to experience massive disruption as the ongoing conflict in the Middle East impedes access to key regional hubs, including Dubai, Doha, and Abu Dhabi. This situation persists despite a fragile ceasefire with Iran now at risk, leaving airlines to implement extensive cancellations and strategic network changes.
British Airways Makes Permanent Network Changes
British Airways is making permanent adjustments to its operations, announcing the cancellation of all flights from London Heathrow to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, effective from 24 April. Having suspended most Middle East services shortly after the conflict began, the carrier plans to resume flights to Dubai, Doha, and Tel Aviv in the second half of the year, albeit at a significantly reduced scale.
From July 1, British Airways will reduce services to Dubai, Doha, and Tel Aviv to just one daily flight each. Additionally, Riyadh services will be cut from two daily flights to one starting in mid-May. These changes apply through the summer season ending on 24 October, with one Dubai service scheduled to restart on 16 October. This strategic pivot away from the Middle East is partly driven by soaring jet fuel prices since the conflict's onset, intensifying pressure on carriers already rerouting to bypass the volatile region.
Comprehensive List of Airline Cancellations
Below is an alphabetical overview of airlines that have cancelled flights to the Middle East, reflecting the widespread impact on global aviation:
Aegean Airlines
Greece's largest carrier has cancelled flights to Riyadh and Amman until 27 June, to Tel Aviv and Beirut until 26 June, to Erbil and Baghdad until 2 July, and to Dubai until 29 June.
airBaltic
Latvia's airBaltic has cancelled all flights to Tel Aviv until 31 May and all flights to Dubai until 24 October.
Air Canada
The Canadian carrier has cancelled all flights to Tel Aviv and Dubai until 7 September.
Air Europa
The Spanish airline has cancelled all flights to Tel Aviv until 3 May.
Air France
Air France has suspended its Tel Aviv, Beirut, Dubai, and Riyadh flights until 3 May.
Cathay Pacific
The Hong Kong airline has cancelled all passenger flights to Dubai and Riyadh until 30 June. To cater for increased demand to Europe, it will operate extra passenger flights to London, Paris, and Zurich in April.
Delta
The U.S. carrier has cancelled its New York-Tel Aviv flights and delayed the restart of its Atlanta-Tel Aviv route until 5 September. The launch of its Boston-Tel Aviv route, planned for late October, has been postponed indefinitely.
EL AL Israel Airlines
The Israeli carrier cancelled flights for customers departing Israel through 18 April, including relevant return flights. It will gradually expand destinations to about 30 from 13 April through the rest of the month.
Emirates and Ethiad Airways
Emirates is operating a commercial flight schedule between Abu Dhabi and around 80 destinations, while Ethiad Airways has resumed a limited commercial flight schedule between Abu Dhabi and approximately 80 destinations.
Finnair
The Finnish carrier has cancelled its Doha flights until 2 July and will only restart its Dubai flights in October, continuing to avoid the airspace of Iraq, Iran, Syria, and Israel.
Flynas
The Saudi budget airline has suspended flights to Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Doha, Bahrain, Kuwait, Iraq, and Syria until 15 April.
Iberia Express
IAG's low-cost airline has cancelled all flights to and from Tel Aviv through 31 May.
Indigo
The Indian airline suspended operations to Doha, Kuwait, Bahrain, Dammam, Fujairah, Ras Al Khaimah, and Sharjah until 28 March.
ITA Airways
ITA Airways has suspended flights to Tel Aviv until 2 April and extended Dubai cancellations until 29 March, also avoiding the airspace of Iraq, Iran, Syria, and Israel.
Japan Airlines
Japan Airlines has suspended scheduled Tokyo-Doha flights until 10 May and Doha-Tokyo flights until 11 May, while adding extra flights between Tokyo and London on 25 April.
KLM
KLM has suspended flights to Tel Aviv, Riyadh, Dammam, and Dubai until 17 May.
LOT
The Polish airline has suspended all flights to Tel Aviv until 31 May, cancelled flights to Riyadh until 30 June, and to Beirut from 31 March to 30 May. It plans to operate its winter route to Dubai in October.
Lufthansa Group
Lufthansa, Swiss, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, ITA Airways, and Edelweiss have suspended flights to Dubai and Tel Aviv until 31 May, and to Abu Dhabi, Amman, Beirut, Dammam, Riyadh, Erbil, Muscat, and Tehran until 24 October. Lufthansa Cargo follows similar suspensions, with Tel Aviv suspended through 30 April. Low-cost carrier Eurowings plans to suspend flights to Tel Aviv, Beirut, and Erbil through 30 April and to Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Amman through 24 October.
Malaysia Airlines
The Malaysian carrier has suspended all flights to Doha until 14 June.
Norwegian Air
The low-cost airline has pushed back planned launches of its Tel Aviv and Beirut services to 15 June.
Pegasus
Turkey's Pegasus Airlines has cancelled flights to Iran, Iraq, Amman, Beirut, Kuwait, Bahrain, Doha, Dammam, Riyadh, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah until 1 May.
Qantas
Australia's flag carrier is adding flights to Rome and Paris to meet increased demand for European routes. Flights to Paris will increase to five return flights per week from three, and the Perth-Singapore service will increase from daily to 10 flights per week. An updated schedule will take effect progressively from mid-April until late July.
Qatar Airways
The carrier is gradually increasing flights from Doha to more than 120 destinations by mid-May.
Royal Air Maroc
The Moroccan carrier says flights to Doha are cancelled until 30 June and those to Dubai until 31 May.
Singapore Airlines
The carrier extended its Singapore-Dubai flights suspension until 31 May, while adding services on the Singapore-London Gatwick and Singapore-Melbourne routes from late March until 24 October to meet higher demand.
Turkish Airlines
SunExpress, Turkish Airlines' joint venture with Lufthansa, has cancelled flights to Dubai until 30 April.
Wizz Air
The low-cost airline suspended flights to Israel until 13 April, and to Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Amman from mainland European destinations until mid-September. All flights to Medina have been suspended indefinitely.
The widespread cancellations highlight the severe impact of regional tensions on global aviation, with airlines adapting their networks amid uncertain geopolitical conditions and economic pressures.
