Air travel across the Middle East has been thrown into disarray following a dramatic escalation in the Israel-Iran conflict. Qatar’s Hamad International Airport in Doha, one of the region’s key aviation hubs, suspended operations on Monday after Iran launched missiles at a U.S. military base in the country, in what it claimed was retaliation for American strikes on its nuclear facilities over the weekend.
Dubai International Airport the world’s busiest by international traffic temporarily paused operations, with authorities warning of continued delays and cancellations. Abu Dhabi, another key air hub in the United Arab Emirates, also faced disruption, compounding the chaos.
Over a dozen international airlines, including Air India and Japan Airlines, have canceled flights. Air India suspended all operations to the Middle East, and halted long-haul flights to Europe and North America’s east coast due to routing complications. Japan Airlines also called off services from Tokyo to Doha.
For years, the Gulf region has been a critical connector between continents, with nearly 400,000 travelers transiting through Doha and Dubai daily. The current shutdown has left thousands of passengers stranded and unsure of when operations will resume. “There was fear when the missiles were reported to be coming in,” said BBC staff member Rob Liddle, stuck in Doha en route to Dhaka. “But now the atmosphere is calm, albeit tense.”
Aviation experts warn the disruption could have long-term consequences. Consultant Tim Atkinson noted, “When disruption begins, it spreads almost like wildfire.” With key airspaces over Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, and Jordan now closed, airlines are being forced to reroute over Turkey or Saudi Arabia, increasing fuel costs and logistical complexity.
The closure of Qatar’s airspace also places added pressure on global airlines, already strained by diversions around Russian and Ukrainian airspace due to ongoing war.
Although U.S. President Donald Trump has announced a “complete and total” ceasefire, there has been no confirmation from either Israel or Iran, leaving the aviation industry and travelers on high alert.
