Middle East Air Travel Collapses as US-Israel Strikes on Iran Ground Thousands
Emirates and Qatar Airways suspend operations indefinitely while the UK Foreign Office advises 300,000 citizens to seek shelter
Image: Matt Weston / AI
Sarah Connor
A total aviation shutdown has gripped the Middle East following US and Israeli strikes on Iran, leaving hundreds of thousands of travellers stranded as major carriers Emirates and Qatar Airways suspend all operations.
This strategic paralysis follows the death of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Saturday. US President Donald Trump indicated that military operations against Iran could persist for four weeks or less.
The UK Foreign Office issued an emergency directive for Britons in Dubai, Bahrain, and Kuwait to seek shelter immediately. Retaliatory strikes hit Dubai, Doha, Bahrain, and Kuwait as officials advised all citizens to avoid travel.
The impact of these strikes will be felt for weeks or months.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer confirmed that approximately 200,000 British nationals are currently located in the Gulf region. Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper stated that 102,000 of these individuals have officially registered their presence with the government.
Logistics teams are now formulating evacuation plans for over 100,000 Britons as the security situation deteriorates. Cooper described the environment as one where citizens remain trapped in targeted countries.
On the front lines of the aerial exchange, the Israeli military confirmed it intercepted a missile and reported no injuries. The threat of further strikes has grounded thousands of commercial flights due to strict airspace restrictions.
Qatar Airways announced that its flight operations remain temporarily suspended due to the closure of Qatari airspace. The carrier will only resume service once the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority announces a safe reopening.
Low-cost carriers are retreating, with Wizz Air suspending all flights to Israel, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Amman through March 7. EasyJet advised customers traveling to Cyprus to monitor flight trackers as regional instability spreads.
British Airways updated its policy to allow customers flying to Abu Dhabi, Amman, Bahrain, Doha, Dubai, or Tel Aviv to change flight dates free of charge. Passengers scheduled to fly through March 15 can rebook for travel on or before March 29.
Refunds are available for British Airways passengers traveling up to March 8. The airline is also allowing free changes for those booked through March 6 to accommodate the sudden closure of regional hubs.
Manchester Airport notified passengers that all flights to the affected region are now subject to potential cancellation. TUI issued guidance for holidaymakers in the UAE and Qatar, warning that airspace restrictions will cause significant delays.
Travel industry expert Paul Charles stated that the impact of these strikes will be felt for weeks or months. He noted that flights through alternative countries are entirely full as passengers seek any available route to safe haven.
The disruption will increase the longer the crisis continues. The situation will have enormous repercussions for the global aviation industry.
Ian Petchenik, Director of Communications, stated that the disruption will increase the longer the crisis continues. He noted the situation will have enormous repercussions for the global aviation industry.
The Czech Republic is deploying two planes to Egypt and Jordan to extract its citizens from the region. Other governments are similarly attempting to assist stranded nationals as commercial options vanish.
Bali’s international airport reported the cancellation of 15 flights on routes to Dubai, Doha, and Abu Dhabi as of Monday afternoon. These cancellations mark the geographic expansion of the travel collapse.
Norwegian Air confirmed it has not yet suspended flights to Tel Aviv or Beirut because those routes are only active during the summer season. Most other carriers have ceased operations to these destinations immediately.
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office urged British nationals in Bahrain, Israel, Palestine, Qatar, and the UAE to register online. This registration allows the FCDO to provide direct updates as evacuation plans materialize.
ABTA advised travelers imminently due to transit through the region to contact their providers to discuss alternative options. Travel insurance is unlikely to cover cancellations resulting from these acts of war.
Qatar Airways is scheduled to provide its next operational update on Tuesday morning. The airline continues to wait for civil aviation authorities to declare the skies over the Gulf safe for civilian transit.