US strikes on Iran spark severe flight chaos across Middle East

Monday 02 March 2026 - 13:47

By: Dakir Madiha

US strikes on Iran spark severe flight chaos across Middle East

Coordinated US and Israeli strikes on Iran have thrown global air travel into disarray, with key Middle Eastern hubs shutting down or operating under tight restrictions as regional airspace remains partly closed. The closures have disrupted one of the world’s main corridors linking Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas, forcing airlines to cancel or reroute thousands of flights and leaving passengers stranded across several continents.

The disruption escalated after US and Israeli forces carried out major attacks on targets in Iran, prompting Iranian missile and drone strikes on Gulf infrastructure and airports. Dubai International Airport, one of the world’s busiest hubs for international traffic, suffered damage during Iranian retaliatory attacks, while airports in Abu Dhabi and Kuwait were also affected, triggering immediate airspace closures and halts to normal operations. Authorities in the United Arab Emirates reported fires and structural damage at Dubai facilities and other high-profile sites, though passenger areas had largely been evacuated before the strikes.

Regional governments closed or heavily restricted airspace over parts of Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Israel, the UAE, and Qatar, leaving skies that are normally dense with east–west traffic almost empty. Data from Eurocontrol and flight-tracking services indicated more than 19,000 flights delayed and over 2,000 cancellations within the first day of the crisis, with airlines warning of continued disruption as they adjust schedules and crew plans. Carriers in Europe and Asia have suspended services to major Gulf and Israeli airports and are replotting long-haul routes to avoid the conflict zone, often adding several hours and extra fuel costs to each flight.

Major European groups such as Lufthansa and Air France-KLM, along with Gulf carriers and airlines in India and elsewhere, have canceled or rerouted numerous services to Dubai, Doha, Abu Dhabi, Tel Aviv, and other regional destinations. Some flights bound for Middle Eastern hubs have diverted midair to cities such as Athens, Istanbul, and Rome, where passengers have faced long waits for rebooking amid limited spare capacity. Aviation analysts say even a rapid reopening of airspace will not immediately resolve the chaos, since aircraft and crews are now out of position and airport slots are saturated at alternative hubs.

Airlines and regulators across Europe, the United Kingdom, and India have reminded travelers that the turmoil stems from extraordinary geopolitical events, meaning standard compensation rules for delays and cancellations often do not apply. Industry experts warn that if the confrontation between Iran and its adversaries continues, passengers should expect longer journey times, higher ticket prices, and persistent schedule volatility on routes touching the Middle East or overflying its airspace.