Global air travel has been thrown into chaos after escalating military exchanges between Israel, the United States, and Iran forced the closure of key Middle Eastern airspace, leading to the cancellation of thousands of flights worldwide.
The crisis intensified following the reported killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei on Friday, triggering retaliatory missile strikes by Tehran. Iran’s counterattacks reportedly damaged infrastructure at Dubai International Airport, one of the world’s busiest international travel hubs. Airports in Abu Dhabi and Kuwait were also reportedly targeted.
According to flight-tracking service FlightAware, thousands of flights across the Middle East have been canceled over the past two days. Emirates, the world’s largest international airline, has suspended all flights from Dubai until Monday. Qatar Airways has halted operations, while Germany’s Lufthansa announced the cancellation of all regional flights through March 8.
Data from Flightradar24 shows that airspace over Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Israel, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar is currently devoid of commercial air traffic. Although Iran initially announced its airspace would remain closed until March 3, uncertainty remains over when normal operations will resume.
The disruption has rippled far beyond the Middle East. Thousands of passengers have been stranded at airports in Bali, Kathmandu, and Frankfurt. India’s Air India has canceled multiple flights from Delhi, Mumbai, and Amritsar to Europe and North America.
Airlines are also facing mounting financial pressure as oil prices surge. International benchmark Brent crude has jumped 10 percent to $80 per barrel, adding to operational costs already strained by widespread cancellations.
Analysts warn that prolonged instability in the region could further strain global aviation networks and deepen the economic fallout from the expanding conflict.
