Iran Crisis Forces Global Airlines to Cancel Middle East Flights Indefinitely
The escalating conflict in Iran has caused massive disruption to global air travel, forcing the closure of key Middle Eastern hubs and leaving thousands of travellers stranded across the region. Airlines worldwide are extending cancellations indefinitely as airspace instability and soaring jet fuel prices create unprecedented challenges for the aviation industry.
British Airways Extends Cancellations Until June
British Airways has announced it will extend flight cancellations to the Middle East once again, with suspensions now lasting until June. A spokesperson for the airline stated: "Due to the continuing uncertainty of the situation in the Middle East and airspace instability, and to provide more clarity to our customers, we've extended the temporary reduction in our flying schedule in the region. We're keeping the situation under constant review and are directly in touch with affected customers to offer them a range of options."
The flag carrier confirmed cancellations to Amman, Bahrain, Dubai, and Tel Aviv up to and including 31 May, with flights to Doha in Qatar scrapped until 30 April. This move comes as the Foreign Office issues no-go warnings for destinations like Dubai, leaving British travellers "stranded in paradise" according to reports.
Jet Fuel Prices Double Amid Regional Turmoil
Adding to the strain on airlines, jet fuel prices have doubled since the conflict began, intensifying pressure on carriers already contending with restricted airspace. Pilots are being forced to reroute flights to bypass the volatile Middle East, increasing operational costs and flight times significantly.
The crisis has particularly impacted major transit hubs including Dubai, Doha, and Abu Dhabi, which normally serve as critical connection points for international travel between Europe, Asia, and Africa.
Comprehensive List of Airline Cancellations
Below is the latest alphabetical summary of which airlines have cancelled flights to the region, with many suspensions extending through spring and into summer:
- Aegean Airlines: Greece's largest carrier cancelled flights to Tel Aviv, Beirut, and Amman until 22 April, and to Erbil and Baghdad until 24 May. Dubai flights cancelled until 19 April and Riyadh until 18 April.
- airBaltic: Latvia's carrier cancelled all flights to Tel Aviv until 5 April and all flights to Dubai until 24 October.
- Air Canada: The Canadian carrier cancelled all flights to Tel Aviv until 2 May and all flights to Dubai until 28 March.
- Air Europa: The Spanish airline has cancelled all flights to Tel Aviv until 10 April.
- Air France: Cancelled flights to Tel Aviv and Beirut until 21 March and to Dubai and Riyadh until 20 March.
- Cathay Pacific: The Hong Kong airline cancelled all passenger and cargo flights to and from Dubai and Riyadh until 30 April.
- Delta: The U.S. carrier cancelled flights from New York to Tel Aviv until 31 March and from Tel Aviv to New York until 1 April. Atlanta to Tel Aviv service delayed with flights paused until 4 August.
- EL AL Israel Airlines: Regular flights cancelled until 21 March.
- Emirates: The UAE airline is operating a reduced flight schedule following partial reopening of regional airspace.
- Ethiad Airways: The UAE carrier resumed a limited commercial flight schedule between Abu Dhabi and select destinations.
- Finnair: The Finnish carrier cancelled Doha and Dubai flights until 29 March and is avoiding airspace of Iraq, Iran, Syria, and Israel.
- Flynas: Saudi Arabian budget airline extended suspension of flights to Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Doha, Bahrain, Kuwait, Iraq, and Syria until 31 March.
- Indigo: The Indian airline suspended operations to Doha, Kuwait, Bahrain, Dammam, Fujairah, Ras Al Khaimah, and Sharjah until 28 March.
- ITA Airways: Suspended flights to Tel Aviv until 2 April and extended Dubai cancellations until 29 March, avoiding airspace of Iraq, Iran, Syria, and Israel.
- Japan Airlines: Suspended scheduled Tokyo-Doha flights until 31 March and Doha-Tokyo flights until 1 April.
- KLM: Flights to Riyadh, Dammam, and Dubai suspended until 28 March and flights to Tel Aviv until 11 April.
- LOT: The Polish airline cancelled all flights to Dubai until 28 March and to Tel Aviv until 18 April. Also cancelled flights to Riyadh until 24 March and to Beirut from 31 March to 30 April.
- Lufthansa Group: The German airline group suspended flights to Tel Aviv through 9 April, and to Beirut, Dubai, Amman, Erbil, Dammam, and Abu Dhabi until 28 March. Flights to Tehran suspended through 30 April and to Riyadh until 5 April.
- Malaysia Airlines: The Malaysian carrier suspended all flights to Doha until 28 March.
- Norwegian Air: The low-cost airline plans to fly to Tel Aviv and Beirut from 15 June instead of 1 April and 4 April respectively.
- Pegasus: Cancelled Iran, Iraq, Amman, Beirut, Kuwait, Bahrain, Doha, Dammam, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah flights until 12 April. Flights to Riyadh cancelled until 23 March.
- Qatar Airways: The carrier will operate a revised limited number of flights from 18 March to 28 March.
- Turkish Airlines: Cancelled flights to Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Doha, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Dammam until 19 March, while flights to Iran cancelled until 20 March.
- Wizz Air: The low-cost airline suspended flights to Israel until 29 March and to Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Amman, and Jeddah from mainland European destinations until mid-September.
The global aviation industry faces continued uncertainty as airlines monitor the rapidly evolving situation in the Middle East, with many carriers warning that further extensions to cancellations may be necessary if the conflict persists.
