NEW YORK — The involvement of the U.S. in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran has severely disrupted global travel, with widespread flight cancellations continuing into Tuesday. This comes despite President Donald Trump’s assertion that a ceasefire was “in effect.”
The situation escalated over the weekend when the U.S. conducted significant bombings on three Iranian nuclear and military sites under Trump’s orders. In retaliation, Iran launched a missile attack targeting U.S. forces stationed at Qatar’s Al Udeid Air Base on Monday. Prior to the attack, Qatar had already temporarily shut its airspace in anticipation of such aggressive actions.
Airports and airways across the region have been under increased alert since June 13, when Israel initiated hostilities with Iran through a surprise wave of attacks. Iran retaliated with its missile and drone strikes. As the conflict gained momentum, more airlines canceled flights, particularly those operating to and from Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, both located across the Persian Gulf from Iran.
Although a ceasefire between Israel and Iran was announced, travel issues remain. Trump accused both countries of breaching the ceasefire’s unknown terms, leading to airlines suspending some routes through mid-week for safety reasons. The truce’s stability remains unclear.
Middle East airlines, in particular, have been heavily impacted by disruptions. Qatar Airways had to suspend flights due to the closure of Qatar’s airspace on Monday, although they’re working on restoring services with lingering disruptions possible until Thursday. Emirates halted all flights heading to or passing through Iran and Iraq until June 30, opting for safer flight paths, which might lead to some delays.
Etihad Airways, based in the UAE, suspended trips between Abu Dhabi and Tel Aviv until July 15, also canceling several regional connections to countries like Kuwait and Oman. Bahrain’s Gulf Air has extended flight cancellations to Jordan until June 27.
Elsewhere, Singapore Airlines stopped some services to and from Dubai from Sunday through Wednesday, citing security concerns related to the Middle East’s geopolitical situation. British Airways also suspended routes to and from Doha with a promise to reassess the situation.
Air India initially announced a halt to all Middle East operations, as well as routes to and from the East Coast of North America and Europe, until further notice. This move comes as the airline still faces the aftermath of a recent crash. However, Air India plans to gradually resume these routes from Tuesday.
Dutch carrier KLM and Philippine Airlines have canceled flights to the region, with KLM halting services to Dubai and Saudi Arabian cities Riyad and Dammam, and Philippine Airlines canceling flights to several Middle Eastern cities. Japan Airlines canceled flights from Tokyo to Doha until June 27. A Qatar Airways flight from Hong Kong to Doha was also canceled.
Flight tracking data revealed 495 cancellations globally by Tuesday afternoon, following 834 cancellations the day before.
Airspace closures and diversions, though disruptive, are crucial for ensuring safety, especially given the potential for sudden escalations. “It is the responsibility of states, countries to ensure that their airspace is safe for passage of aircraft,” stated Hassan Shahidi, President and CEO of the Flight Safety Foundation. He commended Qatar for closing its airspace due to potential threats.
Besides Qatar, UAE airspace also experienced closures briefly on Monday. Ian Petchenik, Director of Communications at Flightradar24, emphasized that such cancellations show airlines, air traffic controllers, and flight crews prioritizing safety. Travelers are advised to monitor government advisories, such as those from the U.S. State Department.
Extended disruptions could further complicate efforts for those needing to evacuate conflict areas without commercial flight access. Shahidi highlights the necessity for state authorities to keep skies safe, referencing past tragedies like the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 over Ukraine in 2014, which resulted in 298 fatalities.
“We are all praying and urging resolution to this conflict — and especially as it relates to protection of civilian air travel,” Shahidi commented. “We do not want to have an MH17, with innocent lives being lost in a missile strike … We do not want to repeat that history.”