Flight operations across the Middle East faced massive disruption on Monday as rising tensions between Israel and Iran forced major airspace closures and led airlines to cancel or reroute flights.
Qatar’s Hamad International Airport in Doha, one of the region’s busiest transit points, suspended all operations after Iran launched missiles at a U.S. military base in Qatar. Tehran said the strike was retaliation for reported American attacks on its nuclear sites over the weekend.
Dubai International Airport, the world’s busiest for international travel, paused flights temporarily. Passengers were warned to expect continued delays and cancellations.
Air India suspended all services to the Middle East and announced it would reroute flights to Europe and North America. Japan Airlines canceled its flights between Tokyo and Doha. Over a dozen carriers adjusted their schedules, citing safety concerns and logistical hurdles.
Daily traffic through airports in Dubai and Doha typically exceeds 400,000 passengers, with another 80,000 moving through Abu Dhabi. These hubs serve as vital connections between Asia, Europe, and Australia.
The impact extended far beyond the region. Flight paths between Europe and Asia—normally routed through Iranian, Iraqi, and Syrian airspace—were redirected over Turkey or Saudi Arabia, increasing fuel costs and lengthening travel times.
“There is a fundamental interconnected nature of air travel,” aviation analyst Tim Atkinson explained. “When disruption begins, it spreads almost like wildfire.”
Data from Osprey Flight Solutions shows that since 2001, six commercial aircraft have been unintentionally shot down during military conflicts, including Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 over Ukraine in 2014, which killed 298 people.
Airlines now face decisions about flying through volatile regions. Aviation expert John Strickland said, “Delays due to longer flight paths not only raise fuel costs but can also create crew shortages, as pilots are bound by legal rest requirements.”
Passengers stranded in affected airports described confusion and tension. Rob Liddle, who was stuck in Doha en route to Dhaka, said hundreds were trying to secure food and places to rest. “There was fear when the missiles were reported,” he said. “But afterward, things calmed down.”
Despite the chaos, U.S. President Donald Trump announced a “complete and total” ceasefire between Israel and Iran. As of Tuesday morning, neither country had officially confirmed the ceasefire or indicated when airspace restrictions might be lifted.
The conflict has already closed skies over Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, and Jordan. Roughly 1,400 flights a day usually cross this corridor between Asia and Europe. The shift is now putting pressure on alternate routes, especially as Russian and Ukrainian airspace remains closed due to the ongoing war.
Travel advisories are now in effect across the region. Airlines and travelers continue to monitor the situation daily, with safety concerns forcing reevaluations of routes and schedules across the global aviation network.
