LONDON (AP).—The attack by the United States and Israel on Iran changed flight plans at all Middle East it is Saturday February 28, 2026 and the following week, since the countries of the region closed their airspace and three of the airports key that connect Europa, Africa y West con Asia They stopped their operations.
Travelers stranded by attack on Iran
Hundreds of thousands of travelers were stranded or they were diverted to other airports after Israel, Catar, Syria, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait y Bahrain They closed their airspace.
There was also no flight activity over United Arab Emiratesthe tracking website said FlightRadar24after the government of that country announced a “temporary and partial closure” of its airspace.
That led to the closure of key connecting airports in Dubai, Abu Dhabi y Dohaalready cancellation of more than 1,800 flights of the main airlines Middle East.
Las three airlines most important that operate in those airports –Emirates, Qatar Airways y Etihad– they usually have around 90,000 passengers per day transiting through these centers and even more travelers bound for places in Middle Easte, according to the aviation analysis firm Candle.
Four injured by Iranian missiles in Dubai
Then later Saturday, officials from the Dubai International Airport –the largest of United Arab Emirates and one of the busiest in the world – reported that four people were injured in a “blatant attack involving Iranian ballistic missiles.”
Attacks were also reported at other commercial airports in the region, including Kuwait International Airport.
“For travelers, there is no way to sugarcoat this,” he said. Henry Harteveldtan airline industry analyst and president of Atmosphere Research Group.
“They should prepare for delays or cancellations over the next few days as these attacks evolve and hopefully end.”
Airlines crossing the Middle East will have to divert flights around the conflictwith many flights heading south over Saudi Arabia.
That will add hours to those trips and consume additional fueladding to the costs that theairlines they will have to absorb.
Airline ticket prices will rise due to attacks on Iran
Therefore, ticket prices could start to rise rapidly if the conflict continues.
The additional flights will also put pressure on the air traffic controllers in Saudi Arabiawho may have to slow down traffic in order to ensure safe handling.
And countries that closed their airspace will no longer receive the overflight fees that airlines pay to cross overhead.
But Mike McCormickwho used to supervise air traffic control for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAAfor its acronym in English) before retiring and is now a professor at the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical Universitysaid that over the next few days these countries could reopen parts of their airspace once the American and Israeli authorities share with airlines where military flights are operating and how capable it remains Iran to fire missiles.
“Those countries will then be able to review the situation and say, okay, we can reopen this part of our space but we will keep this part of our airspace closed,” he added. McCormick.
“So I think what we’ll see over the next 24-36 hours is how airspace use evolves as kinetic activity becomes better defined and as the Iran’s ability to actually fire missiles and creating additional risk is reduced due to attacks.”
But it is unclear how long the disruption to flight operations will last. For comparison, andThe Israeli and American attack on Iran in June 2025 it lasted 12 days.
Airlines recommend checking flight status
The situation is changing rapidly and Airlines urged passengers to check their flight status online before heading to the airport.
Some airlines were issuing exemptions for affected travelers, meaning passengers can reschedule their flight plans without paying additional charges or higher fares.
“No one knows”
Jonathan Escott and his fiancee They arrived today Saturday at newcastle airport, Englandonly to find out that your direct flight to Dubai on the airline Emirates was cancelled, leaving all passengers on the flight stranded there.
Escott He returned to where he was staying with his family, approximately an hour from the airport, but has no idea when he will be able to travel.
“Nobody knows”he lamented Escott. “No one really knows what’s going on with the conflict, really. Not Emirates, Emirates has no idea. No one has any idea.”
The attack on Iran changes flight plans
At least 145 planes heading to cities like Tel Aviv y Dubai first thing on saturday were diverted to airports in cities like Athens, Istanbul or Romeaccording to FlightAware.
Others turned around and returned to the place where they took off.
A plane spent almost 15 hours in the air after leaving Philadelphia and reach up Spain before turning around and heading back to where he started.
Many airlines canceled international flights to Dubai during the weekend, and India’s civil aviation agency designated much of the Middle East –including the skies over Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Lebanon– as a high risk area safety at all altitudes.
Air India canceled all flights to destinations Middle East.
Flights suspended until next week due to attack on Iran
Turkish Airlines pointed out that of Today until Monday, March 2, flights to Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Iran and Jordan are suspended, and that Flights to Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, United Arab Emirates and Oman are suspended until further notice.
The airline stressed that additional cancellations could be announced.
Many other airlines were suspending flights to the region during the weekend.
Delta Airlinesbased in the United States, and United Airlines suspended flights to Tel Aviv at least through the weekend.
For its part, the Dutch airline KLM It had already announced at the beginning of the week that it will pause its flights to and from Tel Aviv.
Airlines like Lufthansa, Air France, Transavia y Pegasus They have already canceled all flights to Lebanon.
In turn, American Airlines suspended flights from Philadelphia to Doha.
For its part, Virgin Atlantic He noted that he will avoid flying over Iraq, which means that journeys to and from India, the Maldives and Riyadh could take a little longer.
Virginia Atlantic planes were no longer flying over Iran.
The firm also indicated that all flights will carry the necessary fuel in case they have to change routes at short notice.
British Airways reported that Its flights to Tel Aviv and Bahrain will be suspended until next weekand that flights to Amman, Jordan, were canceled today, Saturday.
They advise travelers to be “very creative”
“Travelers should anticipate that there will be a lot of disruption,” he said. Henry Harteveldtan airline industry analyst and president of Atmosphere Research Group.
“To be honest, if they have not left homemost likely don’t do it if they are supposed to travel to or through these destinations for at least several days, if not more. And if they are returning home, they will have to be very creative about how to get home,” he added. Harteveldt.
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