Airlines suspend Middle East flights after U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran, and the effects are showing up fast in airport apps and departure boards. Several governments have closed or restricted airspace, so airlines are canceling flights, rerouting planes, and, in some cases, turning aircraft back mid-journey.
Flight maps made the disruption easy to spot. Flightradar24 showed little to no traffic over Iran and Iraq, creating a visible blank gap where busy routes usually run. For travelers in Thailand and Southeast Asia connecting via Dubai or Doha, this is mainly a planning problem: check status early, expect longer routings, and be ready for missed connections.
What triggered the disruption, and why airlines suspend Middle East flights and reroute planes
According to Reuters, airlines changed operations after U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran on Feb. 28, 2026, raised security concerns for civilian aviation. As governments reacted, carriers faced a simple choice: avoid the risk, or stop flying into the area.
An airspace closure is a government order that planes cannot fly through an area.
Airline advisories and air traffic controls then pushed traffic away from normal corridors. Even flights not landing in the region can be affected, because many Europe to Asia routes cross the Middle East. When a key corridor closes, planes need longer paths and more fuel, and schedules break like dominoes.
For the most detailed running summary of carrier changes, see Reuters’ reporting on flight suspensions and reroutes.
Which airspaces are closed or restricted right now
As of Feb. 28, 2026, reports and advisories cited closures or severe restrictions affecting Iran, Iraq, Israel, and Jordan. Reuters also reported immediate closures involving Israel, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar, with parts of southern Syria also affected.
This matches what travelers saw on tracking sites. Flightradar24 reroutes shifted many flights south and west, often bending over Saudi Arabia, while the map showed a clear “blank” zone over Iran and Iraq. Those detours can add time even on routes that never planned to land in the Middle East.
Because restrictions can change hour by hour, travelers should treat any list as time-bound. The airline’s own advisory remains the most reliable source for a specific ticket.
Why this matters more than usual for Europe to Asia travel
In normal weeks, Middle East corridors act like a bridge between continents. They help airlines keep flights short enough to fit within crew duty limits and aircraft range.
Now add another constraint: Russian and Ukrainian airspace closures have already forced many Europe to Asia services onto southern paths. That has pushed extra traffic into Middle East-adjacent corridors. When parts of that system shut down, airlines lose flexibility. The result is longer detours, higher fuel burn, and fewer backup options when an aircraft or crew goes out of position.
What airlines are doing, cancellations, reroutes, and turn backs
Airlines typically take four steps during a Middle East airspace closure: they suspend service to certain airports, route around closed zones, add fuel (and sometimes a technical stop), and turn aircraft back if conditions change while in flight.
Rerouting sounds simple, but it can strain the entire schedule. A flight that arrives two hours late can delay the same plane’s next departure. Crew duty limits can also force a cancellation later in the day, even if the airspace reopens.
Confirmed airline actions and examples travelers may see
Based on Reuters and airline statements summarized in public advisories on Feb. 28, 2026, these were among the confirmed actions:
- Emirates temporarily stopped flights from Dubai International Airport.
- Qatar Airways temporarily canceled flights to and from Doha due to airspace closure.
- British Airways paused Tel Aviv service, canceled some Amman and Doha flights, and reported at least one London to Doha flight turning back to London after departure. BA also canceled Tel Aviv and Bahrain flights into early March.
- Virgin Atlantic canceled a London to Dubai flight and said it would avoid flying over Iraq, affecting routings to places such as India and the Maldives.
- flydubai canceled services to Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Tel Aviv, and Damascus.
- Wizz Air suspended flights to and from Israel, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Amman until at least March 7.
- Air France canceled flights to Tel Aviv and Beirut, and Reuters reported additional cancellations affecting Dubai and Riyadh on Feb. 28.
- KLM stopped flying through Iranian, Iraqi, and Israeli airspace, canceling flights including Amsterdam to Tel Aviv, plus some services to Dubai and parts of Saudi Arabia.
- LOT reported a Warsaw to Dubai flight returning.
- United Airlines paused some Tel Aviv and Dubai services for several days.
- Turkish Airlines paused flights to Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Iran, and Jordan.
- Lufthansa and Pegasus suspended Lebanon routes, and Lufthansa also paused Dubai services for the weekend.
Lists like this change fast. Before leaving home, check your airline’s latest travel notice, not a screenshot from earlier in the day.
Which routes and hubs are most affected, and what it means if you fly from Thailand
For Thailand and much of Southeast Asia, Dubai and Doha are key connection hubs to Europe, the U.S., and Africa. When flights to those hubs get canceled, the disruption can spread well beyond the Middle East. Even if your Bangkok departure shows “on time,” a canceled inbound aircraft can still cause a late gate change or a same-day cancellation.
“Rerouted flights” usually means the same origin and destination, but a longer path that avoids restricted airspace. That can shift arrival times, shorten connection windows, and change baggage transfer timing. It can also create a hidden risk: a legal connection may become unrealistic if the first flight lands late and the onward gate closes.
Airlines may rebook passengers onto later flights through the same hubs, or onto different connections, depending on seat availability and each carrier’s waiver rules.
Common passenger impacts: delays, missed connections, baggage issues, and refunds
The most common impact is extra time in the air, followed by congestion on the ground. Long detours can also mean crews “time out,” so the airline cancels a later leg.
Missed connections often trigger baggage problems. If a passenger is moved to a different flight, checked bags may travel later, especially when routing changes across carriers. Keep essentials in your carry-on, because “same day” baggage is not guaranteed during mass rebooking.
Refunds and fee-free changes depend on airline rules and travel waivers. For flights departing Thailand, this Chiang Rai Times guide on Thailand flight delay and cancellation compensation explains what to request at the airport and what documents to save.
What passengers should do now (simple checklist)
When airlines pause or reshuffle schedules, speed matters less than good records. Take a calm, step-by-step approach:
- Check flight status in the airline app and by email alerts.
- Confirm whether your itinerary connects through Dubai or Doha.
- Don’t head to the airport until the airline confirms the flight will operate.
- Look for a travel waiver that allows free changes or refunds.
- Ask the airline for rebooking options before buying a new ticket.
- If your flight is canceled, request written confirmation and refund choices.
- Save screenshots of notices, boarding passes, and chat transcripts.
- Review travel insurance and credit card coverage, then keep receipts if the airline tells you to self-arrange meals or hotels.
- Pack essentials in carry-on (meds, chargers, a change of clothes).
Wider impact and what to watch next before you rebook
When airspace closes, airlines burn more fuel and spend more time repositioning aircraft and crews. That reduces spare capacity across the network. Over a few days, the ripple can reach routes far from the Middle East, including Asia to Europe services that now funnel through fewer corridors.
The next updates to watch are operational, not speculative:
- Airspace updates from governments and aviation authorities.
- NOTAMs, which are official safety notices for pilots and airlines.
- Airline “service restart” notices for hubs such as Dubai and Doha.
- Airport operations updates when terminals get crowded and gates reassign.
If your itinerary crosses a disrupted hub, assume your connection is fragile until the airline confirms it.
FAQ: refunds, airport decisions, and longer flight times
Can I get a refund if my flight is canceled?
Usually, yes, but the form of the refund depends on airline rules and the ticket type. Many airlines issue travel waivers during major disruptions, which can expand refund and change options. Ask for written confirmation of the cancellation and your choices.
Should I go to the airport if my flight is delayed?
Delays can turn into cancellations quickly when aircraft or crews are out of position. Confirm status in the airline app and look for a new departure time and gate before traveling. If the airline says “await instructions,” follow that and keep screenshots.
Will flights over the Middle East take longer?
Often, yes. Reroutes around restricted airspace can add flight time and reduce connection buffers at hubs. That’s why airlines suspend Middle East flights on some routes while operating others on longer paths.
For a traveler-focused overview of how widespread cancellations can affect schedules, The Independent also summarized the situation in its report on canceled flights and suspended routes.
Conclusion
Airspace closures and rising security risk are forcing airlines to cancel and reroute flights across key Middle East corridors. As a result, Dubai and Doha connections from Thailand can face last-minute changes, longer routings, and missed onward flights. The practical next step is simple: check status often, wait for waivers, and rebook only after the airline confirms options. Sources: Reuters, Flightradar24, airline statements and advisories.
Sources
- Reuters (Feb. 28, 2026)
- Flightradar24 traffic observations (Feb. 28, 2026)
- Airline statements and operational advisories (Feb. 28, 2026)
