On Monday afternoon EDT, the airspace over the Middle East was heavily impacted, as reported by FlightRadar24.
Source: Flightradar24
Several airlines redirected flights in the Middle East following Iran’s announcement of a missile strike on a U.S. military base in Qatar, intensifying tensions in the area.
Over 20 flights heading to Doha, Qatar, were rerouted, and four flights destined for Dubai in the UAE were returned, according to data from aviation analytics firm Cirium. Additionally, Flightradar24 indicated that airspace over the UAE was closed, while Bahrain’s airspace was temporarily shut down as well.
Air India announced a complete halt to all flights in the region, along with journeys to and from the East Coast of North America and Europe “until further notice.”
“Our flights from North America to India are returning to their points of origin, while others are being redirected away from the closed airspaces,” Air India stated on X. “We ask for passengers’ understanding, as this disruption is outside the airline’s control.”
This decision comes after Air India had already made schedule adjustments for enhanced safety after a fatal incident involving one of its Boeing 787s shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad earlier this month, with the cause still being investigated.
British Airways announced on Monday that it is canceling all flights to Doha until Wednesday “in light of recent developments.”
“Safety remains our utmost priority,” the airline said. “We are reaching out to our customers to provide them with options and will monitor the situation closely.”
Air traffic patterns over the United Arab Emirates.
Source: Flightradar24
Meanwhile, major international airlines, including Air France, Iberia, and Finnair, have announced they will delay or postpone resuming services to certain Middle Eastern destinations.
American Airlines had previously ceased operations to Doha, while United Airlines suspended services to Dubai.
Additionally, U.S. airlines have halted flights to Israel after recent military actions by the country against Iran.
The ongoing conflict in the Middle East has complicated operations for airlines already facing airspace restrictions since the Ukraine war began in 2022, leading to closures of Russian airspace for many carriers.
Airlines have been navigating parts of the Middle East warily due to security risks, but the complete closure of airspace means longer and more expensive routes that require additional fuel.
