Thousands of flights have been cancelled and hundreds of thousands of passengers remain stranded as the US-Israel strikes on Iran continue to disrupt global air travel. Gulf airports and airlines have suspended normal operations until at least 10:00 GMT on Tuesday, though limited special services are due to depart from the UAE on Monday evening.
Major Middle Eastern airports, including Dubai – the world’s busiest international hub – have been closed for a third consecutive day, marking the most acute aviation shock since the Covid pandemic. According to analysts Cirium, almost 1,700 flights to the Middle East had been cancelled by Monday morning, though the figure is likely artificially low due to limited data from Iran and the UAE.
Emirates and Etihad Airways have suspended flights to and from their hubs until late Tuesday morning, while Qatar Airways has halted operations while Qatari airspace remains closed. However, both UAE carriers are poised to resume selected flights on Monday evening, offering hope for wider passenger travel. The UAE aviation authority will allow special flights to operate for stranded passengers.
British tourists have been affected, with easyJet cancelling return services between Paphos and Larnaca in Cyprus and the UK on Monday and Tuesday after a drone hit the RAF base in Akrotiri. British Airways has cancelled Monday’s Larnaca service and told passengers due to fly to the Gulf, Israel or Jordan until 15 March that they can delay travel free of charge. Virgin Atlantic has cancelled Dubai flights from London until Wednesday.
The disruption has spread beyond the Middle East, with Air India cancelling flights from Delhi, Mumbai and Amritsar to major European and North American cities. Crew and pilots are scattered worldwide, complicating the resumption of flights. Shares in Tui dropped 9% and British Airways owner IAG fell 5%. Some wealthy travellers are using private jets from Riyadh to Europe at costs up to $350,000.
