Air travel across the Middle East has entered a near-total disruption. With the situation evolving constantly in the Middle East following US and Israeli strikes on Iran, and Iranian missiles and drones crossing the region – affecting Israel, but also Qatar, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Iraq and Cyprus – and with Hezbollah in Lebanon joining the attacks early Monday, there is no clear end in sight.
Many carriers have promised to rebook passengers on alternative routes. However, with multiple airspaces currently shut, thousands of travellers remain stranded. Those travelling to or through the region should be aware that even if tensions ease and skies reopen, it may take days to reorganise schedules and operate return flights.
Several countries have begun organising repatriation schemes for stranded nationals.
8 passenger flights have been able to take off from Abu Dhabi since 14:00 local time. pic.twitter.com/4eYs3ReJaJ
— Flightradar24 (@flightradar24) March 2, 2026
Qatar has offered food and accommodation in safer locations away from the airport to stranded passengers, as did the UAE.
Unusual traffic jams have also been reported on the normally quiet road between Dubai and Oman, as travellers attempt to leave the region following a wave of missile strikes on Dubai. The city sustained minor damage, but four people were injured when missiles struck Dubai International Airport and the Fairmont Hotel on Palm Jumeirah. Abu Dhabi International Airport was also hit in a separate Iranian strike, killing one person and injuring seven.
Israeli airspace will remain closed to commercial traffic until at least 3 March. However, a NOTAM suggests that Ben Gurion Airport may remain closed until 6–7 March. El Al has suspended ticket sales until 21 March to prioritise stranded passengers. Travellers attempting to enter or exit the country are currently using alternative land routes via Egypt and Jordan.
Airspaces over Iran, Iraq, Kuwait and Qatar are now virtually empty. Most long-haul flights between Europe and Asia are being rerouted over Turkey or Egypt, adding two to three hours to travel times.
Airlines status Update
Aegean Airlines
Flights to and from Tel Aviv, Beirut, Erbil, Dubai, and Abu Dhabi are suspended until at least 4 March.
Air Astana
All flights to the Middle East have been cancelled through 3 March.
Air Canada
The airline has cancelled its flights to Israel until 8 March and to Dubai until 3 March.
We've updated our flexible booking policies for customers travelling to or connecting through areas impacted by the military situation in the Middle East, please see here for more details : https://t.co/2qciqcGTrI
— Air Canada (@AirCanada) March 1, 2026
Air France-KLM
Air France services to and from Tel Aviv and Beirut remain suspended.
KLM has suspended its flights to Tel Aviv and Beirut through 7 March, and to Dubai, Riyadh, and Dammam until 5 March.
Air India
Flights to and from the UAE, Israel and Qatar suspended until at least 3 March. Multiple long-haul services from Delhi, Mumbai and Amritsar to London, New York, Chicago, Toronto, Frankfurt and Paris have also been cancelled due to instability in Middle Eastern airspace.
#TravelAdvisory
— Air India (@airindia) March 1, 2026
“In view of the continuing situation in the Middle East, Air India has extended the suspension of all flights to and from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Israel, and Qatar until 2359 hrs IST on 2 March 2026.
Additionally, select flights to Europe scheduled on 2 March…
Flydubai
All flight has been temporarily suspended until further notice.
Azerbaijan Airlines
The airline has suspended flights to and from Dubai, Doha, Jeddah and Tel Aviv.
British Airways
British Airways said it cancelled its service to Tel Aviv and Bahrain until 3 March. Flexible rebooking offered for Middle East routes through 15 March.
An update for our customers. pic.twitter.com/8TAOvl2nY1
— British Airways (@British_Airways) March 1, 2026
Cathay Pacific
All flights to Dubai and Riyadh have been suspended until further notice, including freighter services at Al Maktoum Airport.
El Al
Ticket sales suspended until 21 March to prioritise stranded passengers. The airline is preparing ‘bridge’ operations from 22 global cities, including New York, Paris and Bangkok, pending airspace clearance.
Emirates
All operations in and out of Dubai have been halted until at least 3 p.m. on 3 March.
Due to multiple regional airspace closures, Emirates has temporarily suspended all operations to and from Dubai, up until 1500hrs UAE time on Tuesday, 3 March.
— Emirates Support (@EmiratesSupport) March 2, 2026
The situation remains dynamic and is assessed continuously. We urge all customers to review the latest operational… pic.twitter.com/DwrsOPbv08
Lot Polish Airlines
The airline has suspended its flights to Dubai until 4 March. Routes to Southeast Asia are now extended by up to two hours due to rerouting.
Iberia Express
Flights between Madrid and Tel Aviv are suspended until 10 March.
Indigo
Temporary suspension of selected international routes using Middle Eastern airspace extended. Close to 200 flights were cancelled on Monday alone.
Travel Advisory
— IndiGo (@IndiGo6E) March 2, 2026
We have continued to meticulously evaluate the evolving regional developments and their potential impact on flight operations. After reviewing the latest operational inputs, we are taking the course that we believe is most responsible at this time, purely in the…
ITA Airways
Flights to and from Tel Aviv are suspended until 7 March; Dubai flights are suspended until 3 March. The airline will avoid Israeli, Lebanese, Jordanian, Iraqi and Iranian airspace until at least 7 March.
Japan Airlines
Japan Airlines has suspended its Tokyo Haneda to Doha route until 5 March.
Etihad
Abu Dhabi’s operations remain suspended; they are reviewing the status on an hourly basis. The Emirates airspace remains restricted.
Regional Airspace Disruption – Operational Update
— Etihad Airways (@etihad) March 2, 2026
Regional airspace closures continue to impact Etihad's operations, and all flights to and from Abu Dhabi are suspended until 14:00 UAE time on Tuesday 3 March.
Guests due to travel are advised to:
-Check their flight status at…
Lufthansa
All flights to Abu Dhabi and Dubai have been suspended until 4 March. Its Beirut, Tel Aviv and Oman flights have been cancelled until 7 March. The group will avoid Israeli, Lebanese, Iraqi and Iranian airspace until that date.
Norwegian Air
Dubai flights suspended until 4 March. Israel and Lebanon routes are unaffected as they operate seasonally.
Qatar Airways
Operations have been suspended indefinitely following the total closure of the Qatari airspace.
Update: Qatar Airways flight operations remain temporarily suspended due to the closure of Qatari airspace.
— Qatar Airways (@qatarairways) March 2, 2026
Qatar Airways will resume operations once the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority announces the safe reopening of Qatari airspace. A further update will be provided on March…
Scandinavian Airlines
Copenhagen–Tel Aviv route suspended until further notice.
Pegasus Airlines
Flights to Iran, Iraq, Jordan and Lebanon are cancelled until 2 March inclusive.
Turkish Airlines
Flights to Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, the UAE and Oman have been cancelled since Saturday. Flights to Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Iran and Jordan suspended until 3 March.
Dear Passengers,
— TK HelpDesk (@TK_HelpDesk) February 28, 2026
Due to the current situation which affects flight operations to the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Dammam and Riyadh additional rights have been granted to our passengers.
You can access up‑to‑date information about your flights on our Flight… pic.twitter.com/LOGyvHLmjB
Virgin Atlantic
All services to Dubai and Riyadh have been officially suspended until 6 March. It is now completely avoiding Iraqi and Iranian airspace on its long-haul routes, seriously lengthening the time of flight.
WIZZ Air
All flights to and from Israel, Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Amman have been cancelled until 7 March.
With no immediate ceasefire in sight and multiple actors involved, aviation experts warn that normal flight patterns may not resume for weeks, not days.
