Airspace of THESE countries closed amid Middle East Tensions

2026-02-28 - 15:14

Middle East descended into an aviation nightmare as escalating military tensions in wake of strikes and counterstrikes involving US and Iran triggered an unprecedented shutdown of the skies. At least eight nations including Israel, Iraq, Jordan, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, and Syria closed their airspace, throwing global air travel into chaos. Airlines are scrambling to survive the crisis. Major carriers are canceling thousands of flights, rerouting planes across longer and more expensive paths, and leaving passengers stranded in airports with little information. The ripple effect has paralyzed travel between Europe and Asia, one of the world’s busiest air corridors. Flights Update amid Iran-US War Emirates Airline suspended departures from Dubai. Operations of Flydubai were heavily disrupted. Qatar Airways halted services as airspace closures took effect. Oman Air suspended flights bound for Baghdad. Kuwait Airways canceled all routes to Iran. Pakistan International Airlines paused its Middle East operations entirely. Turkish Airlines scrapped multiple flights to destinations including Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Qatar, Kuwait, and the UAE. Major airlines in Germany, France, United Kingdom, and Netherlands canceled routes to hotspots such as Tel Aviv, Dubai, Beirut, and Riyadh. Some aircraft were forced to turn around mid-flight, dumping passengers back at departure airports or leaving them stuck in limbo. The crisis spread to Asia as well. India’s national carrier canceled all Middle East routes and diverted a flight from Delhi to Tel Aviv. Meanwhile, Japan’s flag airline scrapped a service from Tokyo to Doha. Other Indian carriers warned passengers to brace for further disruptions. Aviation analysts warn that the airspace shutdown represents one of the most severe disruptions in recent history. With Europe, Asia routes crippled, travelers face skyrocketing ticket prices, massive delays, and the possibility of extended cancellations. Airlines are adjusting strategies on the fly, but the skies remain perilous and unpredictable. For thousands of passengers, the dream of smooth travel has turned into a logistical nightmare — and there is no clear end in sight to the growing crisis. Pakistani citizen killed in Iranian strikes in the United Arab Emirates