The war in Iran has forced the closure of key Middle Eastern aviation hubs including Dubai, Doha, and Abu Dhabi — stranding tens of thousands of passengers worldwide. Over 25 airlines have now cancelled or severely reduced flights to the region, with some suspensions extending into May and beyond.
Here’s the complete, up-to-date breakdown of every major airline affected, their suspension dates, and what you can do right now.
Last updated: March 18, 2026
Gulf & Middle Eastern Airlines
| Airline | Status |
|---|---|
| Emirates | Operating a reduced schedule following partial reopening of regional airspace. Check with the airline before travelling. |
| Etihad Airways | Limited commercial schedule from Abu Dhabi to select destinations. Passengers with prior bookings being accommodated. |
| Qatar Airways | Scheduled operations suspended. Revised limited flights from March 18–28 through restricted safe corridors only. Do not go to airport without confirmed ticket. |
| El Al Israel Airlines | Regular flights cancelled until March 21. |
| Flynas (Saudi) | Suspended flights to Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Doha, Bahrain, Kuwait, Iraq and Syria until March 31. |
| Turkish Airlines | Cancelled flights to Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Doha, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Kuwait, Bahrain, Dammam until March 19. Iran flights cancelled until March 20. |
| Pegasus Airlines | Cancelled flights to Iran, Iraq, Amman, Beirut, Kuwait, Bahrain, Doha, Dammam, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah until April 12. Riyadh until March 23. |
European Airlines
| Airline | Status |
|---|---|
| British Airways | Amman, Bahrain, Dubai, Tel Aviv cancelled until May 31. Doha until April 30. Abu Dhabi suspended until later this year. Adding flights to Bangkok and Singapore. |
| Lufthansa Group (Lufthansa, Swiss, Austrian, Brussels, ITA Airways) |
Tel Aviv until April 2. Beirut, Dubai, Amman, Erbil, Abu Dhabi until March 28. Tehran until April 30. Dammam until March 17. |
| Air France-KLM | Air France: Tel Aviv, Beirut until March 21. Dubai, Riyadh until March 20. KLM: Riyadh, Dammam, Dubai until March 28. Tel Aviv suspended for remainder of winter season. |
| Aegean Airlines | Tel Aviv, Beirut, Amman until April 22. Erbil, Baghdad until May 24. Dubai until April 19. Riyadh until April 18. |
| Finnair | Dubai until March 29. Doha until April 2. Continuing to avoid Iraq, Iran, Syria and Israel airspace. |
| LOT Polish Airlines | Dubai until March 28. Tel Aviv until April 18. Riyadh until March 24. Beirut from March 31 to April 30. |
| airBaltic | Tel Aviv until April 5. Dubai until October 24 — one of the longest suspensions announced. |
| Norwegian Air | Tel Aviv and Beirut pushed to June 15 (originally planned for April). |
| Air Europa | All Tel Aviv flights cancelled until April 10. |
| Wizz Air | Israel until March 29. Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Amman, Jeddah from Europe until mid-September. |
North American Airlines
| Airline | Status |
|---|---|
| Air Canada | Tel Aviv until May 2. Dubai until March 28. |
| Delta | New York–Tel Aviv until March 31. Atlanta–Tel Aviv paused until August 4–5. |
Asian Airlines
| Airline | Status |
|---|---|
| Cathay Pacific | All passenger and cargo flights to Dubai and Riyadh cancelled until April 30. |
| Japan Airlines | Tokyo–Doha until March 31. Doha–Tokyo until April 1. |
| Malaysia Airlines | All Doha flights suspended until March 20. |
| IndiGo | Doha, Kuwait, Bahrain, Dammam, Fujairah, Ras Al Khaimah, Sharjah all suspended until March 28. |
⚠ Key takeaway: Some suspensions — like airBaltic (Dubai until October), Wizz Air (mid-September), British Airways (May 31), and Cathay Pacific (April 30) — signal that airlines expect this disruption to last months, not weeks. If you have upcoming travel involving Middle East transit, it’s time to rebook on alternative routes.
What Are Airlines Doing Instead?
Several carriers are actively rerouting capacity to meet demand:
- Air India is operating 50 scheduled and non-scheduled flights to West Asia daily, plus 36 extra flights between March 19–28 on Delhi–London, Mumbai–London, Delhi–Frankfurt, Delhi–Zurich, and Delhi–Toronto routes — adding over 10,000 seats.
- British Airways is adding flights to Bangkok and Singapore and running repatriation flights from Muscat, Oman.
- Air France is deploying larger aircraft on flights from Bangkok, Singapore, Delhi, Mumbai, and Shanghai to meet surging demand from Asia.
- Oman Air is adding extra flights from Muscat to Paris, London, Rome, Cairo, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, and Phuket.
The pattern is clear: European and Asian routes are absorbing the demand that Middle East hubs can no longer serve.
What Should You Do Right Now?
If your upcoming travel involves a Middle East transit or destination:
- Check your airline’s cancellation policy. Most affected carriers are offering free rebooking or full refunds. Qatar Airways allows rebooking until April 30 or a refund for bookings between Feb 28 and March 28.
- Rebook via European hubs. Lufthansa (Frankfurt), Swiss (Zurich), Air France (Paris), and British Airways (London) — while cancelling Middle East routes — are still operating their Europe-to-India and Europe-to-Asia services normally.
- Consider nonstop options. Air India’s additional European flights and American Airlines’ JFK–DEL nonstop avoid the Middle East entirely.
- Book two one-way tickets for flexibility. If one leg gets disrupted, the other stays intact. Read our detailed strategy guide here.
- Book sooner rather than later. Fares on European and Asian routes are rising rapidly as displaced demand floods these corridors.
Need help finding safe routes? FareEagle helps you find flights that bypass the Middle East entirely — through Europe, Asia, or nonstop. Call +91-8532928532 (24/7) or visit fareeagle.com.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which airlines have cancelled flights to Dubai?
As of March 18, airlines with Dubai cancellations include British Airways (until May 31), Lufthansa Group (March 28), Air France (March 20), Cathay Pacific (April 30), Aegean (April 19), Finnair (March 29), LOT (March 28), airBaltic (October 24), Wizz Air (mid-September), and Air Canada (March 28), among others.
Is Emirates still flying?
Emirates is operating a reduced schedule following partial airspace reopening, but service is limited. Check directly with the airline for the latest schedule.
Can I get a refund for my cancelled Middle East flight?
Most airlines are offering free rebooking or full refunds for flights affected by the crisis. Check your specific airline’s cancellation policy. Qatar Airways offers refunds or date changes for bookings between Feb 28 and March 28.
What are the safest flight routes from USA to India right now?
European routes (via London, Frankfurt, Paris, Zurich, Helsinki) and Asian routes (via Singapore, Tokyo) are operating normally. Nonstop options like American Airlines JFK–DEL also avoid the Middle East. See our complete safe routes guide.
How long will Middle East flight cancellations last?
It varies. Some airlines like airBaltic and Wizz Air have suspended Dubai flights until late 2026, while others are reviewing week by week. The situation depends entirely on the evolving conflict.
This article will be updated as airlines announce new cancellations or resumptions.
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