LONDON/DOHA: Global airlines suspended or rerouted flights across the Middle East on Saturday after the United States and Israel launched strikes on Iran, triggering retaliatory missile fire from Tehran.
Airspace over Iran, Iraq, Israel and Jordan was largely empty, according to flight-tracking service Flightradar24, as carriers scrambled to adjust schedules and avoid conflict zones.
Maps showed aircraft diverting around affected areas, with several Gulf routes disrupted.
The escalation follows US and Israeli strikes on Iranian targets and Iran’s subsequent missile salvo, sharply raising regional tensions and dimming hopes of a diplomatic breakthrough over Tehran’s nuclear programme.
The developments mark the latest upheaval for commercial aviation in a region that has become a vital corridor for flights between Europe and Asia after Russian and Ukrainian airspace was closed to most airlines due to years of war.
Airlines face mounting operational challenges as expanding conflict zones increase the risk of accidental or deliberate shoot-downs of civilian aircraft.
Longer diversions also mean higher fuel burn and rising costs.
Regional airspace closures
Israel, Iran, Iraq and Jordan closed their airspace following the strikes.
The United Arab Emirates said it had “partially and temporarily” closed its airspace as a precaution, according to its state news agency.
Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) also suspended its flight operations to several Gulf countries.
PIA flights to the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Doha, and Kuwait have been suspended.
According to the airline, these flights will not operate until tomorrow evening initially, or until the restoration of normal airspace conditions.
However, PIA’s flights to Saudi Arabia will continue, though their routes have been altered.
The flights have been shifted to Boeing 777 aircraft and will reach their destinations via longer routes.
⚠️⛔️⚠️
In view of the developing situation in the Middle East, #PIA is suspending its flights to #UAE 🇦🇪, #Bahrain🇧🇭, #Kuwait🇰🇼 and #Doha 🇶🇦 till tomorrow evening, or till opening of respective airspaces.Flights to #KSA 🇸🇦 have been rerouted, avoiding conflict hit zones.…
— PIA (@Official_PIA) February 28, 2026
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for flydubai said some flights had been impacted due to the temporary closure of several regional airspaces on February 28.
Kuwait’s civil aviation authority said it was halting all flights to Iran until further notice, the state news agency reported.
Oman Air said it had suspended all flights to Baghdad because of the regional situation.
Flightradar24 data showed several Qatar Airways aircraft departing on Saturday morning only to circle over Kuwait or Saudi Arabia before returning to Qatari airspace and holding off Doha.
Qatar Airways said it had halted air traffic temporarily as a precaution.
The Russian Ministry of Transport said Russian air carriers had suspended flights to Iran and Israel.
Major airlines suspend services
Air France cancelled flights to and from Tel Aviv and Beirut on Saturday.
KLM, the Dutch arm of Air France-KLM, brought forward the suspension of its Amsterdam–Tel Aviv service, cancelling its only scheduled Saturday flight.
The airline had previously planned to halt the route from Sunday.
Germany’s Lufthansa said it was suspending flights to and from Tel Aviv, Beirut and Oman until March 7.
It also halted flights to and from Dubai on Saturday and Sunday. The carrier said it would avoid Israeli, Lebanese, Jordanian, Iraqi and Iranian airspace until March 7.
Wizz Air suspended flights to and from Israel, Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Amman with immediate effect until March 7.
The airline said it would continue reviewing operational decisions as the situation evolves.
Virgin Atlantic said it would temporarily avoid Iraqi airspace, resulting in pre-planned rerouting of some services.
It also cancelled its VS400 flight from London Heathrow to Dubai on Saturday.
Emirates, the UAE’s flagship carrier, said it had temporarily suspended all operations to and from Dubai amid multiple regional airspace closures.
Japan Airlines cancelled its Saturday flight from Tokyo Haneda to Doha and a return flight scheduled for March 1, according to the Nikkei newspaper.
Iberia cancelled flights to Tel Aviv, while Air France and other European carriers adjusted services in response to the security situation.
Wider aviation impact
Flight maps showed airspace over Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Israel and Bahrain virtually empty at times on Saturday.
The Middle East has become an increasingly important transit hub linking Europe and Asia, particularly since the closure of Russian and Ukrainian skies to most Western carriers.
Any prolonged disruption could affect long-haul schedules, cargo flows and airline finances.
