As the Middle East conflict enters its fifth day since US-Israeli strikes on Iran began on February 28, 2026, airlines have now canceled over 15,000 flights worldwide to the region, stranding tens of thousands. Building on earlier disruptions exceeding 21,000 cancellations at key Gulf hubs, new safe air corridors are opening while most airlines extend suspensions.
The conflict's aviation fallout continues, with Flightradar24 and Cirium Ltd. data showing more than 15,000 cancellations since Iran's initial retaliatory strike. Planes remain out of position and crews misplaced, with further disruptions forecast through March 6.
Positive steps include the UAE announcing safe air corridors for up to 48 flights per hour, enabling over 80 additional flights to carry more than 27,000 passengers in evacuation efforts.
Key airline updates amid ongoing restrictions:
- Air France-KLM: Suspended Tel Aviv for winter; Dammam, Riyadh, Dubai until March 9.
- British Airways: Canceled Amman, Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Dubai, Doha, Tel Aviv through Tuesday; limited Muscat service.
- Cathay Pacific: Dubai and Riyadh until March 14.
- Delta: New York-Tel Aviv through March 9.
- EasyJet: Tuesday Cyprus flights after UK base drone strikes.
- Emirates: Dubai suspension until March 4; over 2,000 flights scrapped since Saturday, limited evacuations.
- Etihad: Until Thursday.
- Lufthansa Group: Tel Aviv, Beirut, Amman, Erbil, Dammam, Tehran until March 8; avoiding certain airspaces; Oman evacuation flight.
- Oman Air: Extended to Dammam and others.
- Qatar Airways: All operations halted until further notice; update Friday.
- Aeroflot: Two UAE-Russia repatriation flights Wednesday.
- Virgin Atlantic: Dubai, Riyadh through Tuesday; possible further changes.
Qatar Airways has extended halts into Friday as tensions persist.
