Global aviation has been plunged into chaos as the war between the United States, Israel, and Iran continues, forcing widespread airspace closures, flight cancellations and massive economic losses.
Major Gulf hubs and airspaces across the Middle East remain shut or heavily restricted following a series of U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran and Iran’s retaliatory attacks across the region, including missile and drone strikes on airports and infrastructure.
Airlines worldwide have been forced to cancel thousands of flights as countries including Iran, Iraq, Israel, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait and Bahrain closed their airspace for safety reasons.
Gulf carriers such as Emirates, Qatar Airways and Etihad suspended most scheduled services through their hubs in Dubai, Doha and Abu Dhabi.
Since the US and Israel’s strikes on Iran, approximately 13,000 flights scheduled into and out of the Middle East have been canceled, according to aviation analytics firm Cirium. The cancellations have been recorded in seven major Middle East airports, including Dubai International Airport (DXB), Doha International Airport (DOH), Abu Dhabi International Airport (AUH), Sharjah International Airport (SHJ), Kuwait International Airport (KWI), Bahrain International Airport (BAH), Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC).
This significant disruption has affected travelers stranded across multiple continents, highlighting the ongoing impact of the conflict on global air travel.
Major international airlines — including Air India, British Airways, Lufthansa, Turkish Airlines and Air France — have pulled or rerouted flights, and flights at key airports such as Delhi’s IGI Airport also saw significant cancellations.
Stranded passengers from Asia to Europe and Africa have been left waiting at terminals as airlines struggle to reorganise routing around closed skies. Some nations, like the UAE, have mobilised support efforts, covering accommodation, meals and repatriation flights for thousands of affected travelers.
A report by Flightradar24 says that despite the reopening of some airspace in the Middle East, many remained closed as missile and drone attacks continue across the region. While Oman airspace remains open, the UAE is partially closed. Iran, Iraq, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Syria, and Israel maintain total closure for now. Jordan closes its airspace during nighttime only, according to Flightradar24, a platform that publishes live air traffic data.
In a post on its X handle on Tuesday, March 3, Emirates said that all its scheduled flights to and from Dubai remain suspended until 23:59hrs UAE time on 4 March, due to airspace closures across the region.
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The airline said that it continues to operate only a limited number of passenger repatriation and freighter flights on 3 and 4 March.
“We are accommodating customers with earlier bookings as a priority on these limited flights,” Emirates stated, warning passengers not to go to the airport unless they have been notified directly or hold a confirmed booking for these flights.
While assuring that it will continue to monitor the situation and give updates, Emirates advised customers to check http://emirat.es/flightstatus, review the latest operational updates on http://emirates.com, and check their email for any notifications about changes or cancellations to their flights before travelling to the airport.
In a similar advisory, Etihad Airways said passengers should go to the airport unless they have been contacted directly by the airline and provided with confirmed ticket details. “Access to the airport will be restricted for those without confirmed travel documentation. All others should check their flight status at http://etihad.com and await further communication from the airline,” it stated.
While appreciating the cooperation of passengers, the airline pointed out that safety remains its highest priority.
The situation has forced some airlines and travel companies to offer refunds or free rebooking to those who have decided to travel in the coming weeks.
Economic Toll Mounts
The disruption has caused heavy economic damage. Analysts say the aviation industry could face losses well into billions of dollars as cancellations, rerouting and heightened fuel costs bite.
Global markets have also felt the impact. Oil prices spiked sharply amid fears of supply disruptions through the Strait of Hormuz, while stock markets were rattled by the broader uncertainty, with travel and technology shares sinking. According to OilPrice.com, Brent Crude has hit $84.25, while the U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) has reached $76.92 per barrel on Tuesday.
Airspace closures and travel disruptions have also triggered wider economic consequences: cargo operations have been slowed, supply chains stretched, and insurers warned of potential losses tied to war-related claims. Some travel insurance policies explicitly exclude coverage for conflict-related disruptions, leaving passengers financially exposed.
Different countries around the world have issued urgent travel advisories, urging citizens to reconsider travel plans and stay updated on flight statuses as the conflict continues with no immediate end in sight.
As the conflict persists, industry analysts warn that the continuing breakdown of Middle East air traffic, considered a backbone of international travel, could reshape global flight networks and deepen economic losses for airlines and travelers alike.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist, scholar and analyst of socioeconomic issues in Nigeria and Africa. He is skilled in energy reporting, business and economy, and holds a master's degree in mass communication.
