Air travel across the Middle East is facing major disruption, with flights to key cities like Tel Aviv, Dubai, Riyadh and Beirut being widely cancelled or suspended
🔹 What’s happening?
- Many international airlines have paused or reduced flights due to:
- Ongoing Iran related conflict
- Airspace restrictions and safety risks
- Rising fuel costs and supply disruptions
- Some routes are completely suspended, while others are running at limited capacity.
🔹 How long will disruptions last?
- Several airlines have extended cancellations:
- Until late May 2026 for routes like Tel Aviv and Dubai
- Until October 2026 for wider regional routes including Riyadh and Beirut
- In some cases, airlines are reviewing schedules week by week, meaning further changes are possible.
🔹 Which airlines are affected?
- Major carriers involved include:
- Lufthansa Group, Air France, KLM and others
- Some airlines have:
- Suspended all flights to certain cities
- Delayed route resumptions until summer or later in the year
🔹 Bigger picture
- The disruption is linked to:
- Conflict impacting key transit hubs like Dubai and Doha
- Concerns over the Strait of Hormuz, a critical oil route
- This has led to:
- Higher ticket prices
- Reduced flight availability
- Ongoing uncertainty for travelers
