U.S. Involvement in Israel-Iran Conflict Triggers Widespread Middle East Travel Disruptions

The U.S. involvement in the Israel-Iran conflict has triggered widespread travel disruptions across the Middle East. Following President Donald Trump’s authorization of bombings on three Iranian nuclear and military sites over the weekend,

Iran retaliated with a missile attack on U.S. forces at Qatar’s Al Udeid Air Base on Monday. Qatar had already closed its airspace hours earlier, with the U.S. and U.K. advising citizens to shelter in place.

The conflict, which began with Israel’s surprise bombardment of Iran earlier this month, followed by Iran’s missile and drone counterattacks, has heightened regional tensions. As a result, multiple countries have closed sections of their airspace, and airports have temporarily shut down, leading to significant flight disruptions.

FlightAware reported 243 global cancellations by Tuesday morning, with Dubai International Airport seeing 26 cancellations by 0600 GMT. Air India led carriers with 25 cancellations. Middle Eastern airlines, including Qatar Airways, Emirates, Etihad Airways, and Gulf Air, have been heavily impacted. Qatar Airways suspended all flights due to Qatar’s airspace closure, while Emirates halted flights to Iran and Iraq until June 30, 2025, and rerouted others to avoid conflict zones. Etihad suspended flights between Abu Dhabi and Tel Aviv through July 15, along with routes to Kuwait, Doha, Dammam, and Muscat. Gulf Air extended cancellations to Jordan until June 27, prioritizing passenger and crew safety.

International carriers also reacted: Singapore Airlines canceled flights to and from Dubai through Wednesday, British Airways suspended Doha routes through the same day, Air India halted all operations to the Middle East, Europe, and North America’s East Coast, and Philippine Airlines and Japan Airlines canceled select Middle East flights through June 27.

The closures, particularly in Qatar and the UAE, reflect efforts to ensure safety amid escalating tensions. Experts, including Hassan Shahidi of the Flight Safety Foundation, emphasize that such measures are critical to protecting civilian air travel, citing past tragedies like Malaysia Airlines Flight 17, shot down in 2014. Flightradar24 noted that UAE airspace reopened after temporary closures on Monday, but disruptions persist as airlines and authorities prioritize safety.

Travelers are advised to monitor government safety notices and expect delays, as central Middle Eastern hubs are key to global flight networks. Ongoing conflict could further complicate travel and evacuations, underscoring the need for safe airspace management to prevent civilian casualties.