The travel world reeled as hundreds more flights were canceled, marking the worst global disruption since the Covid era. The wave of cancellations continued Monday, leaving hundreds of thousands of travelers stranded amid the turmoil sparked by the US-Israel tensions with Iran.
Airline stocks slid as disruption persisted, and former U.S. president Donald Trump suggested the conflict could drag on for another four weeks, adding to the uncertainty gripping the industry.
Dubai, home to the world’s busiest international hub, and other major Middle Eastern airports remained closed for a third consecutive day, representing the sharpest aviation shock since the pandemic paralysed air travel.
Across the region, flights were being scrapped in large numbers as international carriers suspended services. Early Monday saw 1,239 cancellations, with Emirates (Dubai), Etihad (Abu Dhabi), and Qatar Airways (Doha) among those canceling hundreds of flights. Other carriers also halted services throughout the region. Air India canceled Sunday departures from Delhi, Mumbai, and Amritsar to Europe and North America.
Flight tracking data showed nearly 2,800 cancellations on Saturday and 3,156 on Sunday.
“For travelers, there’s no sugarcoating this,” commented Henry Harteveldt, a long-time airline analyst and president of Atmosphere Research Group. “Expect delays or cancellations for the next few days as the situation unfolds.”
By Monday, airspace over Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Israel, Bahrain, the UAE, and Qatar was largely empty, according to Flightradar24. The disruption rippled beyond the Middle East, trapping passengers from destinations as far as Bali and Frankfurt.
Key carriers hit hardest included:
- Emirates Airlines, the world’s largest international carrier, which halted all planned services to and from Dubai until 3:00 p.m. UAE time on Monday.
- Etihad Airways, which suspended flights to and from Abu Dhabi until 2:00 p.m. UAE time on Monday.
- Qatar Airways, which paused operations due to the closure of Qatari airspace.
The fighting spread to Lebanon after Israel carried out strikes around Beirut and Hezbollah fired rockets into Israel, keeping much of the region’s airspace closed. Major hubs like Abu Dhabi and Doha were either shut or severely restricted.
The disruption is complicating crew logistics as pilots and staff are dispersed globally, delaying any efforts to resume flights once airspace reopens.
With information scarce at many airports, wealthy travelers were reportedly seeking alternative routes out of the region, with some discussions pointing to Riyadh as a transit option. Private jet costs from Riyadh to Europe were said to reach up to $350,000, according to industry sources.
Analysts described this as an unprecedented, multi-hub-wide airspace shutdown, far beyond typical disruption from regional conflicts. The Gulf’s role as a major air-cargo corridor also adds pressure to global trade routes, compounding existing disruptions at sea.
Investors reacted to the turmoil: Japan Airlines fell about 5.6%, Singapore Airlines down 4.5%, Qantas around 5.4%, and Cathay Pacific roughly 2.9%, as market participants weighed the potential long-term impact on aviation.
Oil prices climbed in response to the crisis, with Brent crude rising up to 13% and hovering near $80 per barrel, with some analysts forecasting possible rises to $100 if tensions persist. The industry would feel the effect mainly through higher fuel costs.
To cope, some flights were rerouted to dodge closed or restricted airspace, and routes that once depended on Iranian and Iraqi air corridors became increasingly narrow. Ongoing conflict between Pakistan and Afghanistan added another layer of risk, raising concerns about even longer disruptions for commercial aviation.
Experts emphasized that the main threat is the potential for extended disruption, rather than a short-term airspace reopening. The situation remains fluid as airlines and regulators respond to evolving hostilities.
This report draws on AP and Reuters coverage.
