Iran Strikes Trigger Widespread Airline Cancellations/ TezzBuzz/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Air travel across the Middle East was disrupted after U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran. Several countries closed airspace, forcing cancellations and reroutes. Major international carriers warned of delays and extended flight times.
Quick Look: Aviation Disruptions
- UAE, Israel and Qatar closed airspace.
- Emirates and Etihad flights affected.
- Qatar Airways temporarily suspended Doha operations.
- Flights to Tel Aviv rerouted midair.
- Virgin Atlantic adjusts flight paths.
- Turkish Airlines suspends regional routes.
- KLM had already paused Tel Aviv service.
- Longer travel times expected across key corridors.
Deep Look: Iran Strikes Trigger Widespread Airline Cancellations
LONDON — Military strikes on Iran by the United States and Israel triggered widespread flight disruptions across the Middle East and beyond on Saturday, as several countries shut down their airspace and airlines scrambled to reroute aircraft.
The United Arab Emirates and Israel closed their airspace following the attack. Qatar also suspended air traffic, prompting Qatar Airways Group to temporarily cancel all flights to and from Doha.
Aircraft already en route to Israel were diverted to alternate airports. At Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion International Airport, passengers waiting to depart were escorted out of the terminal after flights were halted.
Major Carriers Impacted
Dubai-based Emirates, one of the world’s largest long-haul carriers, said multiple flights were affected by the UAE’s airspace closure. The airline urged customers to monitor their flight status online. Its hub, Dubai International Airport, is the busiest airport globally for international passenger traffic.
Etihad Airways, also based in the UAE, faced disruptions as well.
Earlier in the week, Dutch airline KLM had announced it would suspend flights to and from Tel Aviv beginning Sunday, amid rising regional tensions.
Virgin Atlantic canceled its scheduled flight from London Heathrow to Dubai and said it would avoid Iraqi airspace as a precaution. The airline noted that flights connecting to India, the Maldives, Dubai and Riyadh may take longer due to rerouting. Virgin Atlantic had already been avoiding Iranian airspace prior to the latest escalation and said it was ensuring flights carried extra fuel to accommodate potential last-minute diversions.
Regional Suspensions Expand
Turkish Airlines announced on social media that it would suspend flights to Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Iran and Jordan until Monday. Flights to Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, the UAE and Oman were suspended for Saturday, with the possibility of additional cancellations.
The cascading closures highlight how quickly military conflict in the region can ripple through global aviation networks, affecting not only local routes but long-haul international travel between Europe, Asia and the Middle East.
Airlines and aviation authorities are continuing to monitor the situation, warning passengers to expect further disruptions as tensions remain high.
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