Middle East conflict impacts on global air travel

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SUMMARY

Air Arabia cancelled flights between Sharjah and Kuwait, and Abu Dhabi and Kuwait for July 26 and July 27, 2026, and also to Bahrain, due to escalating regional tensions. As of July 30, 2026, major airlines like Air France, British Airways, and Lufthansa Group have extended flight suspensions to various Middle Eastern destinations, with some suspensions lasting until October 2026. Kuwait International Airport experienced disruptions on July 16, 2026, after military interception of drones and missiles, and the EASA has warned carriers to avoid airspace over Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, UAE, and parts of the Gulf of Oman until July 29, 2026. Emirates has restored approximately 75% of its pre-conflict schedule, while other airlines like Turkish Airlines and Eurowings plan to resume some flights in the region.

Timeline

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July 2026 — 6 developments

  2. Major Airlines Extend Middle East Flight Suspensions Amid Security Concerns

    Major airlines, including Air France, British Airways, and Lufthansa Group, have extended flight suspensions to various Middle Eastern destinations due to escalating regional tensions and security concerns. Air France has suspended flights until July 27, 2026, and August 2, 2026, while British Airways and Lufthansa Group have extended suspensions until October 25, 2026, and October 24, 2026, respectively. Emirates has restored approximately 75% of its pre-conflict schedule.

  3. Kuwait intercepts drones; EASA warns airlines to avoid airspace amid Iran claims

    Kuwait's military intercepted drones and cruise missiles, leading to disruptions at Kuwait International Airport, while Iran claimed responsibility for an attack on a US base. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has issued a warning advising carriers to avoid the airspace of Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and parts of the Gulf of Oman until July 29, 2026, due to missile and drone activity.

  4. Turkish Airlines, Eurowings to Resume Middle East Flights; Airspace Advisories Extended

    Turkish Airlines plans to resume flights to Dammam, Saudi Arabia on July 10, 2026, and Kuwait City on July 11, 2026. Eurowings plans to resume flights to Tel Aviv on July 10, 2026. European aviation authorities have advised avoiding Iranian, Iraqi, and Lebanese airspace through August 31, 2026.

  5. EASA Extends Middle East Flight Advisory; Air France Resumes Some Flights, Extends Beirut Suspension

    The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has extended its Middle East flight advisory through July 8, 2026, recommending airlines avoid airspace over Iran, Iraq, and Lebanon due to ongoing security risks. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has also warned of escalating operational risks for civil aviation due to the increasing use of drones in armed conflicts. Air France has resumed flights to Riyadh and Tel Aviv but extended its suspension of flights to Beirut until July 20, 2026.

  6. Middle East Flights Disrupted; Air Arabia Launches New Route, Lufthansa Resumes Tel Aviv Service

    Israir, El Al, and Air Arabia experienced over 120 delayed and 10 canceled flights on July 5, 2026, impacting operations at Ben Gurion Airport and Sharjah International Airport. Air Arabia launched a new daily service between Sharjah and Aleppo on July 4, 2026, while Lufthansa Group airlines began gradually resuming flights to Tel Aviv on July 1, 2026.

June 2026 — 2 developments

  1. Airlines Extend Middle East Flight Cancellations Amid Volatile Airspace

    Etihad Airways plans to increase flights to Israel, while Scoot has resumed flights to Jeddah. British Airways and Air France have extended cancellations to multiple Middle Eastern destinations through at least October 25, 2026, and July 5, 2026, respectively. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has extended its conflict zone information bulletin, advising caution in the region.

  2. Airlines Extend Middle East Flight Cancellations, Some Resuming in September

    American Airlines has extended flight cancellations to Tel Aviv and Doha until January 2027, while British Airways has permanently canceled flights to Jeddah and extended others through October 25, 2026. United Airlines plans to resume flights to Tel Aviv and Dubai on September 7, 2026. The U.S. State Department issued a 'DEPART NOW' advisory for 16 Middle Eastern countries.

May 2026 — 1 developments

  1. Lufthansa to Resume Israel Flights in June, Extends Dubai Suspension

    Lufthansa Group plans to gradually resume flights to Israel starting in June, while continuing to suspend flights to and from Dubai until September 13. Air France has extended its cancellations to Dubai and Tel Aviv until April 2026.

April 2026 — 3 developments

  1. Lufthansa cuts 20,000 summer flights; Air France, BA, KLM suspend Middle East routes

    Lufthansa has cut approximately 20,000 summer flights due to rising jet fuel prices and Middle East tensions. Air France has suspended flights to Tel Aviv, Beirut, Dubai, and Riyadh until May 3, while British Airways has canceled flights to Abu Dhabi indefinitely and suspended flights to Israel. KLM has also suspended flights to various Middle Eastern destinations.

  2. Delta Air Lines extends Tel Aviv flight cancellations, KLM suspends flights to multiple cities

    Delta Air Lines has extended its cancellation of New York-Tel Aviv flights and delayed the restart of its Atlanta-Tel Aviv route until September 5, citing security concerns. KLM has suspended flights to Tel Aviv, Dubai, and Riyadh until May 3 and is avoiding the airspace of Iran, Iraq, and Israel. Qatar Airways has published a revised schedule with a gradual increase in flights to over 120 destinations by mid-May.

  3. Airlines extend Middle East flight cancellations, EASA extends airspace warning

    Multiple airlines, including British Airways, Delta, and Wizz Air, have extended flight cancellations and suspensions to Middle Eastern destinations, with some routes now canceled through May 31, 2026, or indefinitely. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has also extended its conflict-zone airspace warning until at least April 24, 2026, impacting flight times and costs.

March 2026 — 40 developments

  1. Airlines extend flight cancellations to Middle East destinations due to escalating conflict

    Global air travel is severely disrupted as airlines extend flight cancellations due to escalating Middle East conflict. Aegean Airlines, Air Baltic, and Air Canada have announced further suspensions to destinations including Tel Aviv and Beirut, with Air France KLM extending cancellations through March 13 for Tel Aviv and Beirut, and until March 12 for Dubai and Riyadh.

  2. British Airways, Air France, and KLM extend flight cancellations to Middle East cities

    British Airways has extended flight cancellations to Amman, Bahrain, Doha, Dubai, and Tel Aviv until March 28, with Abu Dhabi flights suspended longer. Air France has extended its suspensions to Tel Aviv and Beirut until at least March 13, and KLM has extended its cancellations to Tel Aviv, Dubai, Riyadh, and Dammam until March 10 due to ongoing security concerns and airspace restrictions.

  3. British Airways Cancels Tel Aviv Flights Until 2026; Middle Eastern Airlines Cut 23,810 Flights

    British Airways has canceled all flights to and from Tel Aviv until August 31, 2026, due to security concerns. Additionally, six major Middle Eastern airlines, including Emirates and Qatar Airways, have canceled 23,810 flights over a ten-day period amid heightened regional tensions and conflict involving Iran. These cancellations have significantly disrupted air travel.

  4. Air France and Lufthansa Extend Flight Suspensions to Middle East Amid Regional Conflict

    Air France and Lufthansa Group have extended flight suspensions to multiple Middle Eastern destinations due to escalating regional conflict and airspace restrictions. Air France flights to Tel Aviv and Beirut are cancelled until at least March 13, while services to Dubai and Riyadh are grounded until March 12. Lufthansa Group has extended its suspension of flights to Tel Aviv until April 2. Additionally, El Al, Emirates, and FlyDubai have reported 66 cancellations and 107 delays, stranding hundreds of passengers.

  5. Lufthansa, British Airways, Air France extend Middle East flight suspensions

    Lufthansa Group has extended flight suspensions to multiple Middle Eastern destinations until March 15, with specific dates for Tel Aviv, Beirut, and Tehran. British Airways has canceled flights to Tel Aviv and Amman through March 9 and March 7 respectively, while Air France has suspended flights to Dubai and Riyadh until March 12. Lufthansa also abruptly canceled a scheduled flight to Riyadh, diverting the aircraft to Cairo due to the unstable security situation.

  6. Turkish Airlines suspends flights to Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, and Jordan; Oman Air cancels multiple routes

    Turkish Airlines has suspended flights to Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, and Jordan until March 13 due to heightened security risks. Oman Air has also cancelled multiple flights to destinations including Amman, Dubai, and Doha amid ongoing regional airspace closures and safety concerns. These new suspensions add to existing cancellations by Lufthansa and KLM, impacting global air travel.

  7. Lufthansa Group extends flight suspensions to Middle East destinations due to security concerns

    Lufthansa Group has extended its suspension of flights to multiple Middle Eastern destinations due to escalating security concerns and regional airspace restrictions. Flights to Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Dammam, Amman, and Erbil are suspended until March 15, while Tel Aviv flights are suspended until April 2, Beirut until March 28, and Tehran until April 30. The airline group is continuously monitoring the situation.

  8. Middle Eastern Airlines Resume Limited Operations; US Issues Travel Advisories; KLM Extends Suspensions

    Several Middle Eastern airlines, including Etihad Airways, Emirates, flydubai, and Air Arabia, have begun to resume limited commercial operations following airspace reopenings. The U.S. State Department has issued Level 3 "Reconsider Travel" advisories for Cyprus, Saudi Arabia, and Oman due to escalating regional conflict. KLM has extended its flight suspension to Dubai, Riyadh, and Dammam until March 10, and to Tel Aviv and Beirut until March 13.

  9. EASA issues high-risk warning for Middle East airspace, causing widespread flight cancellations

    Europe's aviation safety regulator, EASA, has issued a high-risk warning for much of the Middle East and Persian Gulf airspace due to the ongoing conflict, leading to widespread rerouting and cancellations. Since February 28, 2026, over 32,500 flights have been canceled out of 58,500 scheduled services across the region.

  10. Indian carriers cancel 279 international flights due to Middle East conflict airspace disruptions

    Indian carriers cancelled 279 international flights on Sunday, March 9, 2026, due to airspace disruptions amid the Middle East conflict. The Civil Aviation Ministry is closely monitoring flight operations and ticket prices to prevent fare surges. Airlines are planning special and additional flights from the Gulf region to repatriate stranded passengers.

  11. Airlines extend flight suspensions and cancellations due to Middle East conflict

    Multiple airlines have extended flight suspensions and cancellations due to ongoing Middle East conflict and airspace closures. Air France has cancelled flights to Dubai and Riyadh until March 10 and suspended flights to Tel Aviv and Beirut until March 11. Qatar Airways and Oman Air have also suspended operations with updates expected, while Indian airlines canceled 279 international flights on March 8.

  12. Lufthansa Extends Flight Suspensions to Middle East; Indian Airlines Cancel 279 International Flights

    Lufthansa Group airlines have extended flight suspensions to various Middle Eastern destinations, with services to Tehran now suspended until April 30, 2026, and Tel Aviv until March 22, 2026. Additionally, Indian airlines cancelled 279 international flights on March 8 due to the ongoing crisis and resulting airspace restrictions.

  13. KLM cancels flights to Tel Aviv, Dubai, Riyadh, Dammam through 2026, avoids Middle East airspace

    KLM has canceled flights to and from Tel Aviv, Dubai, Riyadh, and Dammam through March 10, 2026, and is avoiding the airspace of Iran, Iraq, Israel, and several Gulf countries. The U.S. Department of State has advised citizens to depart the region due to serious safety risks. Repatriation flights are being operated in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for stranded travelers.

  14. Qatar Airways expects to resume flights March 7; Oman Air cancels until March 8; Lufthansa diverts flight

    Qatar Airways expects to resume flight operations on March 7 as Middle Eastern airspace restrictions ease, while Oman Air has cancelled flights until March 8. A Lufthansa flight from Munich to Riyadh was diverted to Cairo due to safety concerns and airport closure. Ben Gurion International Airport plans to resume departing flights on March 8 with limited operations.

  15. Airlines resume limited flights as Middle Eastern airspace restrictions ease

    Airlines including Qatar Airways and Oman Air are resuming limited flights as Middle Eastern airspace restrictions begin to ease following recent strikes. Lufthansa is also aiming to gradually restart operations, while British Airways is operating daily repatriation flights. These developments signal a partial return to normal air travel after widespread cancellations due to regional instability.

  16. Airlines suspend and cancel flights to Middle East due to airspace closures and security concerns

    Qatar Airways suspended flight operations due to airspace closure, with an update expected March 7. Air France cancelled flights to Dubai and Riyadh until March 6 and suspended flights to Tel Aviv and Beirut until March 8. Wizz Air has suspended flights to Israel, the UAE, and Jordan until March 15, citing worsening security in Iran and regional tensions. Lufthansa diverted a flight to Cairo due to safety concerns and temporary airport closure.

  17. Pakistan International Airlines cancels 104 flights to Middle East due to security concerns

    Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) cancelled 104 flights to Middle Eastern destinations on March 6, 2026, bringing the weekly total to 1,130 cancellations. Authorities cited security concerns amid escalating regional instability as the reason for the disruptions affecting major cities like Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad.

  18. Emirates resumes flights to 82 destinations, Etihad to 25 amid Middle East tensions

    Emirates has resumed flights to 82 destinations, and Etihad Airways has restarted limited operations to 25 destinations until March 19, amidst ongoing Middle East tensions. While many airlines continue to cancel or suspend services, these resumptions indicate a partial return to operations.

  19. Lufthansa extends flight suspensions to Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Tehran; British Airways cancels flights to Middle East

    Lufthansa has extended flight suspensions to Dubai and Abu Dhabi through March 10 and to Tehran until May 1, 2026, due to the Middle East situation. Indian carriers canceled 281 international flights on March 6, though Air India and Air India Express have resumed services to Jeddah and Muscat. British Airways has cancelled flights to several Middle Eastern destinations up to March 15, 2026, citing ongoing security risks.

  20. KLM and British Airways cancel flights to Middle East due to security concerns

    KLM has cancelled all flights to and from Tel Aviv, Dubai, Riyadh, and Dammam through March 5, 2026, due to the security situation in the Middle East and is avoiding airspace over Iran, Iraq, and Israel. British Airways has extended its cancellation of flights to and from Israel until at least July 31, 2025, and August 2025, citing security concerns following a missile strike at Ben Gurion Airport and US military action against Iran.

  21. British Airways cancels all Tel Aviv flights until August 1 due to security concerns

    British Airways has cancelled all flights to and from Tel Aviv until at least August 1, citing security concerns. Lufthansa has extended its suspension of flights to Dubai and Abu Dhabi through Tuesday, and services to Tehran are not expected to resume until May 1. These extended cancellations reflect ongoing regional security situations and airspace disruptions.

  22. Multiple airlines suspend flights to Middle East destinations due to airspace closures

    Cathay Pacific has halted services to Dubai and Riyadh until March 14, while Wizz Air has suspended flights to Israel, the UAE, and Jordan through March 7. Gulf Air has temporarily suspended all flights due to regional airspace closures, and Air India has also suspended services.

  23. Air France, Lufthansa, and British Airways cancel and suspend flights to Middle East cities

    Air France has cancelled flights to Dubai and Riyadh until Friday and suspended flights to Tel Aviv and Beirut until March 8. Lufthansa has extended flight suspensions to Dubai and Abu Dhabi until Friday, and to Tel Aviv, Beirut, Amman, Erbil, and Tehran until March 8. British Airways remains unable to operate flights from Abu Dhabi, Amman, Bahrain, Doha, Dubai, and Tel Aviv, with Oman being used as a key departure point.

  24. KLM and Lufthansa cancel flights to Middle East cities due to security concerns

    KLM has canceled all flights to and from Tel Aviv, Dubai, Riyadh, and Dammam through March 5, 2026, due to the security situation. Lufthansa has extended flight suspensions to Dubai and Abu Dhabi until March 5, and to Tel Aviv until March 22, with Tehran flights suspended until May 1. Ben Gurion International Airport confirmed 104 flight cancellations and 1 delay on March 5 due to airspace restrictions.

  25. Qatar Airways suspends flights due to airspace closures; Lufthansa extends suspensions to Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Tehran; Emirates cancels DXB–AKL flight.

    Qatar Airways has suspended flight operations due to airspace closures, with services expected to resume once the airspace is declared safe. Lufthansa has extended flight suspensions to Dubai and Abu Dhabi through March 8, and to Tehran until May 1. Emirates cancelled its DXB–AKL flight scheduled for March 5.

  26. Airlines extend flight suspensions to Middle East cities amid ongoing disruptions

    Lufthansa has extended its flight suspensions to Tel Aviv until March 22 and to Dubai and Abu Dhabi until March 10. United Airlines has cancelled flights to Tel Aviv and Dubai until March 11, while Finnair has cancelled flights to Doha and Dubai until March 29. British Airways stated it remains unable to operate flights from Abu Dhabi, Amman, Bahrain, Doha, Dubai, and Tel Aviv, with additional flights from Muscat to London fully booked.

  27. Airlines extend flight suspensions and resume limited services in Middle East

    Airlines are extending flight suspensions and resuming limited services in the Middle East following military actions. KLM has extended cancellations to March 9, while Wizz Air has extended its suspensions to Israel, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Amman until March 15. Virgin Atlantic has resumed flights to Dubai and Riyadh, and Qatar Airways expects updates on March 4 regarding its operations.

  28. Indian carriers resume limited flights to Middle East; British Airways, Cathay Pacific cancel services

    Indian carriers began resuming limited commercial services to parts of the Middle East on March 3, 2026, to repatriate stranded passengers. British Airways has canceled flights to Amman, Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Dubai, Doha, and Tel Aviv up to and including March 5, while Cathay Pacific canceled all flights to and from Dubai and Riyadh through March 14.

  29. Air France, Lufthansa, and Indian carriers extend flight suspensions to Middle East

    Air France has extended its suspension of flights to Tel Aviv, Beirut, Dubai, and Riyadh until March 5, 2026, due to the security situation. Lufthansa Group airlines have suspended flights to Amman, Erbil, Dammam, and Tehran until March 8, 2026, and will avoid specific airspaces, while flights to and from Dubai are suspended until March 4. Indian carriers Air India and IndiGo also extended flight suspensions on March 2, impacting Middle Eastern and European routes.

  30. Etihad Airways to resume limited flights March 4 amid Middle East unrest

    Etihad Airways plans to resume a limited number of flights on March 4, while American Airlines and United Airlines have also canceled flights to various Middle Eastern destinations due to regional unrest. These disruptions follow a joint attack by Israel and the U.S. on Iran, leading to widespread flight cancellations and airspace closures across the region.

  31. US, Israel military actions cause 2,000 flight cancellations, airlines suspend Middle East routes

    Recent military actions by the United States and Israel against Iran have led to significant disruptions in Middle Eastern airspace, resulting in the cancellation of at least 2,000 flights as of March 2, 2026. Air France has extended its suspension of flights to Tel Aviv, Beirut, Dubai, and Riyadh through March 3, 2026, due to fresh security warnings. British Airways has cancelled flights to the Gulf, Israel, and Jordan until March 15, while Air India cancelled all flights to Middle East destinations.

  32. Emirates, flydubai, Qatar Airways, Etihad, and Lufthansa Group suspend flights to Middle East

    Emirates and flydubai have suspended all flights to and from Dubai until March 3, 2026. Qatar Airways and Etihad Airways have also temporarily suspended flights to and from their respective hubs, with no confirmed restart times but extensions reported through March 3rd. Lufthansa Group airlines have extended suspensions to multiple Middle Eastern destinations until March 8th.

  33. Airlines continue flight cancellations across Middle East; Lufthansa extends suspensions, British Airways cancels Gulf flights

    Airlines are continuing to cancel flights across the Middle East on March 2, 2026, marking the third day of widespread disruptions. Lufthansa has extended its flight suspensions through March 8, while British Airways has cancelled flights to the Gulf until the end of Tuesday. On Sunday, March 1, 3,156 flights were cancelled, following 2,800 cancellations on Saturday.

  34. Airlines suspend or extend flight cancellations to Middle East due to regional tensions

    Airlines including IndiGo, Akasa Air, Air France, and KLM have suspended or extended flight cancellations to and from Middle Eastern destinations due to escalating regional tensions and airspace closures. IndiGo extended its suspension until March 7, while Air France cancelled flights to Tel Aviv, Beirut, Dubai, and Riyadh through March 3. KLM warned of disruptions through March 6.

  36. Airlines cancel over 2,000 Middle East flights due to airspace closures

    Over 2,000 flights to the Middle East were canceled on March 1, 2026, a significant increase from the previous day, due to airspace closures stemming from the conflict between Israel, Iran, and the USA. Major airlines including Emirates, Qatar Airways, and Etihad Airways suspended operations until at least March 2, while Israeli carrier El Al canceled flights through March 4.

  37. Lufthansa extends airspace closure, Air Canada suspends flights, Dubai Airports halts operations

    Lufthansa has extended its airspace closure over several Middle Eastern countries, including Israel, Lebanon, and Iran, until March 8, and Air Canada has suspended flights to Dubai and Tel Aviv until March 3 and March 8, respectively. Dubai Airports has also suspended all operations at DXB and DWC until further notice due to escalating regional conflict.

  38. Lufthansa Group suspends flights to Middle East, avoids UAE airspace until 2026 due to security

    Lufthansa Group has suspended all flight operations to several Middle Eastern destinations until at least March 8, 2026, and will avoid using UAE airspace until March 4 due to the ongoing security situation. These extensions follow coordinated strikes by the United States and Israel targeting sites in Iran, leading to widespread airspace closures and significant travel chaos.

  39. Airlines suspend flights to Middle East due to high-security risk designation

    India's civil aviation agency has designated much of the Middle East as a high-security risk zone, leading Air India to cancel all flights to the region. Turkish Airlines has suspended flights to several countries including Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Iran, and Jordan, with further suspensions to Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, the UAE, and Oman. US-based Delta Air Lines has also suspended flights.

  40. Middle Eastern nations close airspace, stranding travelers amid escalating tensions

    Hundreds of thousands of travelers are stranded or diverted as Israel, Qatar, Syria, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, and Bahrain have closed their airspace following escalating military tensions. This has led to the closure of major hub airports in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Doha, and the cancellation of over 1,000 flights by Middle Eastern airlines. Lufthansa Group airlines are suspending flights to multiple Middle Eastern destinations and will not use several regional airspaces until March 7.

February 2026 — 9 developments

  1. British Airways cancels flights to Tel Aviv, Bahrain, and Amman; Doha flight returns due to Mideast tensions

    British Airways has canceled flights to Tel Aviv and Bahrain until March 3, and also canceled its service to Amman. An overnight flight from London Heathrow to Doha was forced to turn around mid-air and return to London due to escalating security concerns in the Middle East. These actions follow broader suspensions by other European airlines amid rising US-Iran tensions.

  2. U.S. and Israel Attack on Iran Disrupts Commercial Flights Across Middle East

    The U.S. and Israel's attack on Iran on February 28, 2026, triggered widespread commercial flight disruptions across the Middle East and beyond. Regional airspaces, including those of Israel, Qatar, Syria, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, and Bahrain, were closed, leading to hundreds of flight cancellations and stranded travelers. Major airlines like Lufthansa, Air France, KLM, Air Canada, and British Airways suspended flights to multiple destinations.

  3. Lufthansa and Air France Suspend Middle East Flights Amid US-Iran Tensions

    Lufthansa and Air France have joined KLM in suspending flights to the Middle East due to escalating US-Iran tensions. The US has also withdrawn non-essential personnel and their families from its embassy in Lebanon. Governments worldwide are issuing travel warnings and advising citizens to leave Iran, Lebanon, and Israel.

  4. British Airways extends Tel Aviv flight suspension until August 2026 due to security concerns

    British Airways has extended its suspension of flights to and from Tel Aviv until at least August 31, 2026, citing security concerns. This follows a previous suspension after a Houthi missile attack near Ben Gurion International Airport. Additionally, Greek airline Aegean and US carrier Delta have resumed flights to Tel Aviv this week.

  5. KLM to suspend Amsterdam-Tel Aviv flights from March 2026 due to security concerns

    KLM will temporarily suspend its daily flights between Amsterdam and Tel Aviv starting March 1, 2026, citing rising security tensions in the Middle East and operational considerations. The airline stated that operating flights to Tel Aviv is not commercially and operationally feasible at this time.

  6. Australia, Serbia, Poland, Sweden Issue Middle East Travel Advisories Amid US-Iran Tensions

    Several countries, including Australia, Serbia, Poland, and Sweden, have issued new travel advisories for the Middle East on February 25, 2026, due to escalating tensions between the US and Iran. Australia advised diplomats' dependents to leave Israel and Lebanon and offered voluntary departures from the UAE, Jordan, and Qatar, while Serbia and Poland urged their citizens to leave Iran immediately.

  8. Airlines suspend/reroute flights to Middle East due to US-Iran tensions

    Airlines including Lufthansa Group, Austrian Airlines, and Air India suspended or rerouted flights to the Middle East in January 2026 due to escalating US-Iran tensions and security concerns. Lufthansa Group suspended overnight flights to Tel Aviv and Amman, restricted other Middle East operations to daytime only, and canceled flights to Tehran until March 28. Air India canceled flights to the US due to Iranian airspace closure.

  9. KLM Royal Dutch Airlines resumes flights to Tel Aviv and Dubai with adjusted schedules

    KLM Royal Dutch Airlines has resumed flights to parts of the Middle East, including Tel Aviv and Dubai, with adjusted schedules, effective February 1 for Dubai and February 2 for Tel Aviv.

January 2026 — 22 developments

  1. Australia's DFAT issues Middle East travel advisory, warns of security risks and travel disruptions

    Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) issued a travel advisory for the Middle East, warning of unpredictable security risks and potential global travel disruptions. The advisory highlights possible flight delays and cancellations due to rising tensions.

  4. Finnair, Wizz Air, IndiGo, Singapore Airlines avoid Middle Eastern airspace

    Finnair, Wizz Air, IndiGo Airlines, and Singapore Airlines have joined other major carriers in avoiding Middle Eastern airspace due to heightened tensions.

  7. IndiGo, El Al, Arkia, Israir, and Lufthansa adjust flight schedules due to regional tensions

    IndiGo has cancelled flights to Tbilisi, Almaty, Tashkent, and Baku for January 26-28, while Israeli airlines El Al, Arkia, and Israir have adjusted their ticket cancellation policies. Lufthansa has cancelled services to Tehran until March 29 and maintains limited daytime operations to Tel Aviv and Amman until the end of the month.

  8. Airlines reroute or suspend flights over Iranian airspace due to heightened tensions

    British Airways, Austrian Airlines, and Indian carrier IndiGo have joined other airlines in rerouting or suspending services over Iranian airspace or to Gulf hubs due to heightened tensions. KLM has also specified that some flight suspensions to Middle Eastern cities are indefinite, while others are until January 26.

  9. Air France denies widespread Middle East flight cancellations, confirms two Dubai departures axed

    Air France denied widespread reports of cancelling all its Middle East flights, clarifying it only cancelled two nighttime departures to Dubai initially. Additionally, several North American airlines have begun rerouting or suspending services over Iranian airspace or to Gulf hubs.

  11. Lufthansa, Swiss suspend Tel Aviv flights; KLM avoids Mideast airspace

    Lufthansa and Swiss International Air Lines have suspended operations to Tel Aviv. KLM will avoid flying over large parts of the Middle East until further notice.

  14. Air France, KLM, Air Canada, and United Airways suspend flights to Middle East and avoid airspace

    Air France and KLM have temporarily suspended services to additional Middle East destinations including Dubai, Dammam, and Riyadh, and will avoid Iraqi, Iranian, and Israeli airspace. Air Canada and United Airways have also canceled flights to Tel Aviv.

  15. KLM cancels flights to Israel, Dubai, and Saudi Arabia; EU aviation regulator advises avoiding Iran airspace

    KLM has canceled flights to Israel through Sunday, as well as flights to Dubai and Saudi Arabia. The EU aviation regulator recommended on January 16 that its airlines avoid Iran's airspace.

  16. Major European airlines suspend flights to Israel, Saudi Arabia, and UAE due to security concerns

    Major European airlines, including Air France, British Airways, and KLM, announced further suspensions and halts of flights to Israel, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, citing a rapid deterioration in security conditions. Israeli media reported that Israel cleared its national airspace of all civilian aircraft as a precautionary measure.

  17. Lufthansa cancels all flights to and from Tehran until March 29, 2026, avoids Iranian airspace

    Lufthansa confirmed the cancellation of all passenger and cargo flights to and from Tehran until March 29, 2026. Austrian Airlines also extended its suspension of Tehran flights. Lufthansa stated it would continue to avoid Iranian and most Iraqi airspace and reschedule overnight services to Tel Aviv and Amman to daytime departures to mitigate drone warfare risks.

  18. UAE Airlines Cancel Flights to Europe, Levant, South Asia Amid Airspace Restrictions

    A fresh wave of flight cancellations hit UAE hubs, affecting routes to Europe, the Levant, and South Asia, due to airspace restrictions and regional tensions. Emirates, Etihad, and flydubai were among the airlines cancelling or consolidating services.

  20. Lufthansa suspends flights over Iran, Iraq; halts night flights to Israel, Jordan

    Lufthansa announced on January 14 that it would no longer fly over Iranian and Iraqi airspace, in addition to suspending night flights to Israel and Jordan until the end of the month.

  21. Airlines cancel flights to Middle East amid US-Iran tensions and protests

    Amid renewed US threats against Iran and ongoing anti-government protests in Iran, several airlines including Lufthansa, Air France, KLM, and Swiss cancelled flights to the Middle East, including Israel, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia. British Airways also paused flights to Bahrain.

June 2025 — 3 developments

  1. Qatar temporarily shut its airspace after Iranian attacks on Al Udeid airbase

    Qatar temporarily shut its airspace after Iranian attacks on the Al Udeid airbase in Qatar. Qatar Airways, Emirates, FlyDubai, Etihad Airways, and SalamAir announced temporary suspensions or cancellations of flights to Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Israel. Some international airlines, including Singapore Airlines and British Airways, began resuming some services to Dubai and Doha.

  2. Airlines cancel flights to Middle East, avoid regional airspace after US strikes

    Following US strikes on Iranian nuclear sites, British Airways, Singapore Airlines, and Air France cancelled flights to Dubai, Doha, and Riyadh. Flight tracking showed airlines avoiding airspace over Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Israel.

May 2025 — 1 developments