Dubai: A wave of flight cancellations and route adjustments has hit air travel across the Middle East, with Dubai and other Gulf hubs significantly impacted, as the escalating Israel-Iran conflict—now involving direct US military action—raises serious security concerns across regional airspace.
Airlines from the US, Europe, and Asia have suspended or rerouted flights amid mounting risks of missile activity, drone threats, and airspace closures, particularly across Iran, Iraq, Syria, and parts of the Eastern Mediterranean.
For over a week, commercial traffic through one of the busiest global air corridors has been dramatically reduced, forcing airlines to opt for longer and costlier alternative routes through Egypt, Saudi Arabia, or the Caspian region. These detours are adding flight time, fuel consumption, and crew expenses, at a time when oil prices are also surging due to the regional tensions.
Affected Airlines and Routes
European and UK Carriers
- Air France-KLM: Cancelled flights to/from Dubai and Riyadh (June 22–23)
- British Airways: Cancelled flights to Dubai and Doha (June 22); flights to Bahrain suspended until June 30
- Finnair: Suspended service to Doha
- KLM: Offering rebook/refund options for Amsterdam–Dubai routes (June 19–29)
- Wizz Air: Rerouting to avoid Israeli, Iraqi, Iranian, and Syrian airspace
North American Airlines
- American Airlines: Suspended flights to Doha; no confirmed resumption date
- Air Canada: Suspended daily non-stop Dubai flights until at least July 3
- United Airlines: Halted Newark–Dubai service; Tel Aviv operations affected until August 1
Asian Airlines
- Singapore Airlines (SIA): Cancelled Dubai-bound flights on June 22; full suspension until June 25 pending security assessments
UAE and Regional Carriers: Suspensions & Adjustments
- Air Arabia: Halted flights to/from Iran, Iraq, Russia, Armenia, Georgia, Azerbaijan (until June 30); Jordan flights paused until June 25
- Emirates: Suspended services to Tehran, Baghdad, Basra until June 30; Jordan and Lebanon flights resumed during daytime only
- Etihad Airways: Cancelled Tel Aviv flights until July 15
- flydubai: Suspended routes to/from Iran, Iraq, Israel, Syria, and St. Petersburg (until June 30); Jordan and Lebanon served only during the day
- Israir: Cancelled all Israel-bound flights until June 30
- ITA Airways: Extended suspension of Tel Aviv service through July 31
- Lufthansa Group: Halted operations to Tehran; avoiding Iran, Iraq, and Israel airspace entirely
- Pegasus Airlines: Suspended flights to Iran (until June 30), Iraq, Lebanon, Jordan (until June 23)
- Qatar Airways: Temporarily suspended services to/from Iraq, Iran, and Syria
- Ryanair: Cancelled all flights to/from Tel Aviv until September 30
- TAROM: Halted services to/from Tel Aviv, Beirut, and Amman until June 24
- TUS Airways: Flights to/from Israel suspended until June 24
- AirBaltic: Cancelled Tel Aviv flights until September 30
What Travellers Should Know
- Check Status Before Departure: Passengers are strongly advised to verify flight status via the airline’s official website or app before heading to the airport.
- Rebooking and Refunds: Most airlines are offering flexible rebooking or full refund options for affected travelers.
- Connecting Flights at Risk: Passengers transiting through Dubai or Abu Dhabi to suspended destinations may be denied boarding at their original departure point.
As geopolitical tensions continue to unfold, airlines are closely monitoring the situation, with safety protocols and routing decisions subject to change at short notice. Travellers should remain alert and maintain communication with their airlines.
