LONDON/DUBAI/ ISLAMABAD: Air travel across the Middle East and around the globe has been thrown into chaos after the US and Israel launched coordinated strikes on Iran, prompting a wave of airspace closures, flight cancellations and reroutes that have affected thousands of passengers and disrupted major aviation networks.
In response to the escalating conflict, several countries in the region — including Iran, Iraq, Israel, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar and others — announced full or partial closures of their airspace to civilian flights. Major transit hubs such as Dubai International Airport and Abu Dhabi International Airport were forced to suspend operations, with Emirates, Etihad and flydubai temporarily halting services.
The knock on effects have been felt worldwide. According to aviation data, hundreds of flights to and from the region were cancelled on Saturday, as airlines moved to avoid closed or high risk airspace. Gulf based carriers including Qatar Airways suspended flights to Doha, while European and international airlines such as Lufthansa, Air France KLM and Turkish Airlines also cancelled or paused services, avoiding affected routes until at least early March.
Civil aviation authorities in affected states have designated large portions of the Middle East as high risk airspace due to ongoing military activity, urging carriers to exercise caution and avoid those corridors. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) issued an advisory warning of elevated risks to civil aviation in and around the region.
Although the United Arab Emirates, Lebanon, and Jordan have not issued formal notifications, flight radar data indicate that certain technical restrictions and safety warnings have led airlines to suspend flights over or to these countries. Airlines from these nations, including major carriers, have grounded operations, and thousands of flights to and from Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and other major airports have been cancelled until further notice.
The Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) also suspended its flights to several Gulf destinations as air travel across the region faces disruption amid the escalating Middle East conflict.
In a passenger advisory, issued on February 28, 2026, the PIA announced that “in view of the developing situation in the Middle East”, it is suspending flights to the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait and Doha until Sunday evening or until the relevant airspaces reopen. The airline added that its flights bound for Saudi Arabia have been rerouted to avoid conflict-affected zones. The PIA has advised travellers to contact its call centre at 021 111 786 786 for updated flight information and re-accommodation options.
Meanwhile, the Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) said Pakistan’s airspace remains fully open, safe and operational for all civil aviation. According to updated figures issued on the evening of February 28, 2026, PAA handled 27 affected flights, including diversions, returns, technical landings and reroutes.
Flight radar data also show airlines are generally avoiding Pakistan and Afghanistan’s airspace, though the Pakistan Airports Authority confirmed that Pakistan’s airspace remains fully open and safe, with foreign flights continuing operations.
Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia’s airspace remains open and airport operations normal, though flights from other Gulf countries to Saudi Arabia have been temporarily suspended.
