The ongoing conflict in the Middle East continues to wreak havoc on global air travel, with major airlines cancelling or reducing flights to key hubs such as Dubai, Doha, and Abu Dhabi. British Airways has made a permanent strategic shift, announcing the cancellation of all flights from London Heathrow to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, effective 24 April. While the carrier had suspended most Middle East services shortly after the conflict erupted, it plans to resume flights to Dubai, Doha, and Tel Aviv later this year, albeit at a significantly reduced frequency.
Regional airspace is gradually reopening, with Bahrain's Gulf Air set to resume services to London. However, British Airways' decision marks a clear pivot away from the region. The situation is compounded by soaring jet fuel prices, which have surged since the conflict began, putting additional financial strain on airlines already forced to reroute flights to avoid volatile areas.
Comprehensive List of Airline Cancellations and Suspensions
Below is an alphabetical list of airlines and their current status regarding flights to the Middle East:
Aegean Airlines
Greece's largest carrier has cancelled flights to Riyadh and Amman until 27 June, and to Tel Aviv and Beirut until 26 June. Flights to Erbil and Baghdad are suspended until 2 July, while Dubai services are cancelled until 29 June.
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 flights to Tel Aviv, Beirut, Dubai, and Riyadh until 3 May.
airBaltic
Latvia's airBaltic has cancelled all flights to Tel Aviv until 31 May and to Dubai until 24 October.
British Airways
IAG-owned British Airways is reducing Middle East services upon resumption, permanently dropping Jeddah as a destination while increasing capacity to India and Africa. From 1 July, it plans to operate one daily flight each to Dubai, Doha, and Tel Aviv, and reduce Riyadh services from two daily to one from mid-May. These changes apply through the summer season ending 24 October, with one Dubai service restarting on 16 October.
Cathay Pacific
The Hong Kong airline has cancelled all passenger flights to Dubai and Riyadh until 30 June. To meet surging European demand, it will operate extra flights to London, Paris, and Zurich in April.
Delta
Delta 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 return flights. It is gradually increasing destinations, aiming for about 30 from 13 April, expanding further through the month.
Emirates
The UAE carrier continues to operate a commercial flight schedule between Dubai and around 110 destinations.
Ethiad Airways
Ethiad has resumed a limited commercial flight schedule between Abu Dhabi and around 80 destinations.
Finnair
The Finnish carrier has cancelled its Doha flights until 2 July and continues to avoid the airspace of Iraq, Iran, Syria, and Israel. Dubai flights will only restart in October.
Flynas
The Saudi budget airline 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 suspended flights to Tel Aviv until 2 April and extended Dubai cancellations until 29 March, while avoiding the airspace of Iraq, Iran, Syria, and Israel.
Japan Airlines
Japan Airlines suspended scheduled Tokyo–Doha flights until 10 May and Doha–Tokyo flights until 11 May. It also added extra Tokyo–London flights on 25 April.
KLM
KLM suspended flights to Tel Aviv, Riyadh, Dammam, and Dubai until 17 May.
LOT
The Polish airline suspended all flights to Tel Aviv until 31 May, 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 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 the same schedule except Tel Aviv suspension until 30 April. 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 suspended all flights to Doha until 14 June.
Norwegian Air
The low-cost airline postponed planned launches of its Tel Aviv and Beirut services to 15 June.
Pegasus
Turkey's Pegasus Airlines 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 European demand, increasing Paris flights to five return per week from three and Perth–Singapore from daily to ten per week. The updated schedule takes effect progressively from mid-April to 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 cancelled flights to Doha until 30 June and to Dubai until 31 May.
Singapore Airlines
Singapore Airlines extended its Singapore–Dubai suspension until 31 May, while adding services on Singapore–London Gatwick and Singapore–Melbourne routes from late March to 24 October.
Turkish Airlines
SunExpress, a joint venture with Lufthansa, 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 are suspended indefinitely.
