Airlines on alert as airspace closures hit Middle East

In total, more than 12,000 flights have been canceled in the region since Saturday (28), when the bombing began.

The crisis adds another chapter to the industry’s recent turbulence, which has been battered by conflicts around the world, including Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and, more recently, the U.S. military intervention in Venezuela.

Cirium, an aviation analytics firm, said 4,500 flights were canceled across several countries in the region on Monday (2), representing 43.9% of scheduled departures.

The hardest hit were the United Arab Emirates, with 960 cancellations (93% of the total), and Qatar, with 310 flights not operating (96% of the total). Since Saturday, 12,903 flights have been canceled.

“Around 900,000 seats are scheduled per day for flights to the Middle East, departing from international destinations and within the region,” Cirium said.

Dubai and Doha disruptions

Dubai airport, one of the most important connection hubs between Europe and Asia, was closed over the weekend. Operations resumed on Monday, but on a limited basis.

“Dubai airport continues to closely monitor the situation in coordination with the relevant authorities, and our focus remains on maintaining the highest standards of operational safety, security and the well-being of passengers and staff,” it said in a statement.

Emirates, which uses Dubai as its main hub, has been among the airlines most affected by the crisis. In a social media post, the carrier said it began operating on the 2nd with a limited number of flights.

Its priority now, the airline said, is to accommodate passengers with delayed or rescheduled bookings. “All other flights remain suspended until further notice,” it said.

Qatar Airways, one of the world’s largest airlines, said on its website on Monday that flights were still suspended due to the closure of the country’s airspace. “Qatar Airways will resume operations as soon as the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority announces the safe reopening of the airspace,” the airline said in a statement.

Willie Walsh, director general of the International Air Transport Association (Iata), said he hoped for a swift and peaceful resolution. “In the meantime, it is essential that states respect their obligation to keep civilians and civil aviation safe from harm,” he said in a statement.

A sector already battered by geopolitics

The latest disruption hits an industry that has faced heavy turbulence in recent years as geopolitical instability has intensified. In early January, the United States invaded Venezuela and captured dictator Nicolás Maduro.

The operation in Venezuela itself is small, but the airspace closure there—and in the Caribbean—disrupted airline networks, especially routes linking South America and North America. Flights were canceled by Brazil’s Azul and by Latam subsidiaries. Latam is Latin America’s largest airline group.

Gol, another Brazilian carrier, saw operating costs rise on Brazil-U.S. routes because it had to make en route refueling stops and detour around closed airspace.

Behind the scenes, the industry’s biggest concern is the volatility these conflicts bring to oil and foreign-exchange markets, with swings in the U.S. dollar being closely watched. The currency is crucial for airlines because jet fuel and aircraft leasing are denominated in dollars.

In Brazil, aviation fuel accounts for about 40% of airlines’ operating costs.

The regional conflict adds to a complex global geopolitical backdrop that has directly disrupted air operations. One of the most emblematic examples is Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which drove up the cost of flights between Asia and Europe by forcing aircraft to reroute around Russian airspace.

In December 2024, an Embraer 190 jet flying from Baku, Azerbaijan, to Grozny, Russia, made an emergency landing in Kazakhstan after being hit by a Russian air defense system. The crash killed 38 people.