Is your flight to the Middle East back on?

Economic Times

5 hours ago

Air travel in the Middle East started to recover on Tuesday after a ceasefire between Israel and Iran ended a 12‑day conflict and several Persian Gulf nations reopened their airspace. National carriers in the Gulf resumed flights overnight, and airports in Doha and Dubai returned to service. These hubs had briefly closed after Iran launched a missile strike at a US air base in Qatar on Monday. Airports in Bahrain and Kuwait also resumed operations on Tuesday. However, many foreign carriers remained cautious, canceling flights and rerouting services to avoid areas still considered risky.The ceasefire and the easing of airspace restrictions caused a sharp rise in the shares of major European carriers. Deutsche Lufthansa, Ryanair, and British Airways parent IAG gained more than 4%. Air France‑KLM rose 10% in Paris, and Turkish Airlines gained nearly 7%.
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Regional airspace status
The Middle East has witnessed airspace restrictions several times over the past 20 months, affecting flights over Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, and Iran. The closures forced airlines to cancel services on profitable routes, use longer flight paths, and accept higher fuel costs. Dozens of aircraft were diverted from Dubai and Doha, causing delays that kept some passengers in the air for hours.
One Paris‑bound Qantas Airways flight lasted 15 hours before returning to Australia because of airspace restrictions. Air India suspended services to Europe, the US, and the Middle East, and IndiGo said many of its Middle East flights were disrupted. Japan Airlines halted services to Doha until June 27, and British Airways kept its Doha flights canceled, although Dubai services continued.
Major airline adjustments
Air India suspended all flights to and from the Middle East, Europe and North America, citing airspace closures and ongoing fleet inspections after its June 12 crash. Reroutes avoid Iran, Iraq and Israel.
IndiGo on Tuesday said flight operations into, out of, and through the Gulf countries have stabilised and are operating as scheduled.
Emirates announced it would maintain its schedule and adjust flight paths to stay clear of conflict zones. The airline had rerouted some services during the crisis.
Qatar Airways restored its flights and added ground staff at Hamad International Airport in Doha. The carrier operates more than 80% of the flights at the airport, data from ch‑aviation.com shows.
Etihad suspended Abu Dhabi–Tel Aviv services until July 15 and halted select Gulf region flights.
Singapore Airlines cancelled flights to and from Dubai after regional security reassessments.
British Airways and Air France–KLM cancelled services to Dubai, Doha, Riyadh, Tel Aviv and Beirut, with many routes halted until end‑June or mid‑July.
American Airlines and United Airlines suspended flights to Qatar and Dubai indefinitely or through early July.
Ryanair cut all flights to Amman from June 13 to Sept 30 due to region instability and airspace closures.
Flydubai has resumed flights on June 24 as scheduled, some delays may be expected due to airspace congestion.
Impact on Passengers More than 100 flights were diverted from Doha and Dubai airports after the airspace closures. As of June 24, Dubai International Airport announced 26 cancellations, with Air India alone cutting 25 wide‑body flights. The delays have left many travelers stranded and airports relying on contingency staff to manage the crisis.Airlines are advising passengers to review their tickets and expect longer connections and rerouted flights. They have also announced refunds or rebooking options for those affected.Malaysia Airlines, Korean Air, and ANA Holdings said their services to Dubai and Doha were operating as normal.With tensions high and airspace restrictions still active, carriers expect long‑term changes to Middle Eastern flight paths. The UAE has activated an emergency airport plan to support travelers impacted by the crisis. Meanwhile, airlines warn that rising fuel costs, longer flight times, and restricted airspace could continue to disrupt global air travel for the foreseeable future.
Advice for Travelers If you have an upcoming flight to or through the Middle East: Check your airline's official website or mobile app for status updates.
Be prepared for longer transit times or changes to your route.
Confirm refund and rebooking policies before traveling.