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Coordinated United States and Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28, 2026 have thrown travel across the Middle East into turmoil, with cascading airspace shutdowns, thousands of passengers stranded, and airlines from Europe to Asia scrambling to redraw flight paths around a rapidly expanding conflict zone.
Airspace Shutdowns Stretch Across the Region
In the hours after the first strikes on Iranian targets, at least eight Middle Eastern states moved to close or heavily restrict their airspace, effectively severing some of the world’s busiest east–west aviation corridors. Iran, Israel, Iraq, Qatar, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates announced complete closures for civilian traffic, while Jordan and parts of Syria imposed sweeping restrictions amid fears of missile and drone activity overhead.
Iran’s official news agency confirmed a nationwide airspace halt following a notice to airmen, while Israeli authorities suspended all civilian flights and declared a state of emergency as sirens sounded in multiple cities. Aviation tracking platforms showed skies over Iran and Iraq virtually empty of commercial aircraft by mid-morning, a stark contrast to their usual density as key overflight routes between Europe, the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia.
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency issued a conflict zone information bulletin advising carriers to avoid large portions of the Middle East and Persian Gulf, citing the risk of misidentification and spillover from active military operations. For many operators, that has turned a long-simmering security concern into an immediate operational red line.
Global Airlines Reroute, Cancel and Warn of Delays
Major airlines across the Gulf, Europe and Asia rapidly grounded services or swung them onto longer, fuel-hungry detours. Leading Middle Eastern carriers including Emirates, Etihad and Qatar Airways suspended large parts of their regional networks, with flights to Iran, Israel and Iraq halted and many services to and from the UAE temporarily grounded as local airspace was closed.
European and North American airlines followed suit. Carriers such as KLM, Virgin Atlantic, Lufthansa, Air France, British Airways and Turkish Airlines announced cancellations or diversions, particularly on routes linking Europe with India, Southeast Asia and Australia that would normally traverse Iranian or Iraqi skies. Some long-haul flights departed with extra fuel for possible diversions, only to be turned back mid-route as the security picture deteriorated.
Indian airlines have also been forced to act. Air India and IndiGo suspended flights to the broader Middle East, while other regional operators issued travel advisories warning of extended delays and last-minute schedule changes. With alternative routings pushing flights north over Central Asia or south along the Arabian Sea, passengers are facing longer journey times, missed connections and congested hubs far from the conflict itself.
Trade Routes, Tourism and Cargo Under Strain
The aviation shutdowns are rippling well beyond passenger travel, hitting cargo flows and tourism-dependent economies across the region. Gulf hubs such as Dubai and Doha, which rely heavily on their role as global transit and logistics centers, are seeing freighter operations curtailed and time-sensitive shipments delayed as aircraft avoid closed flight information regions.
Freight forwarders report that overnight express consignments and high-value goods moving between Europe and Asia are among the first to be affected, with flights forced onto lengthier routes that raise fuel costs and stretch crew duty limits. Some traffic is being rerouted through secondary hubs in Turkey, Central Asia and North Africa, but capacity constraints and insurance concerns are limiting how quickly new patterns can be established.
Tourism is also bracing for a sharp shock. Seasonal travel to destinations in the Levant and Gulf had been recovering on the back of new hotel openings and expanded route networks. Now, widespread cancellations to Jordan, Lebanon and Israel, as well as uncertainty around connections via major Gulf hubs, are prompting tour operators to pause sales and travelers to postpone or cancel trips altogether.
Safety, Insurance and the Risk Calculus for Travelers
Behind the rapid shutdown of skies lies a hardening of risk assessments by regulators, airlines and insurers. The use of ballistic missiles, drones and advanced air defense systems across multiple theaters has raised fears of miscalculation in crowded air corridors, echoing past incidents in conflict zones where civilian aircraft have been caught in crossfire.
Insurers are moving swiftly to reassess premiums for war-risk coverage on flights that even skirt the affected region, increasing pressure on carriers to reroute or temporarily suspend services. Aviation security experts note that the combination of active hostilities, long-range weapons and dense commercial traffic creates a volatile environment in which any misread radar blip or errant projectile could have disastrous consequences.
For travelers, the practical implications are immediate. Airlines are urging passengers booked on Middle East itineraries or on flights that typically cross Iranian or Iraqi airspace to monitor updates closely, keep contact details current and expect rolling changes. Flexible rebooking options are being offered by many carriers, but those with complex multi-leg journeys may face extended disruptions as the situation evolves day by day.
What to Watch Next for Middle East and Global Travel
How long the current aviation crisis endures will depend largely on the trajectory of the Iran–Israel confrontation and the scope of United States involvement. Any further waves of strikes or retaliatory attacks on regional bases and infrastructure are likely to prolong or expand airspace closures, especially if new states perceive direct threats to their territory.
Diplomatic efforts by the United Nations, European capitals and regional mediators are focusing in part on securing safeguards for civilian aviation and trade flows, even as they call for a broader ceasefire. Industry groups are pressing for clear, timely communication of airspace status and hazard information to allow airlines to plan more predictable alternative routings.
For now, travelers and the wider tourism sector must navigate a landscape in flux. With key transit hubs constrained and traditional East–West corridors severed, the Middle East’s role as an essential bridge between continents has been abruptly curtailed, underscoring how quickly geopolitical shocks can redraw the global map of movement and connectivity.