By Marcus Moloko
Global flights have been disrupted following escalating tensions in the Middle East.
The global aviation sector has entered a period of severe instability following joint military strikes conducted by the United States and Israel against Iran.
The escalation has necessitated the immediate closure of critical air corridors and the suspension of operations at some of the world’s most pivotal airline hubs.
In response to the hostilities, authorities have implemented total airspace closures over Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, and Bahrain.
Dubai International Airport (DXB), the world’s leading international gateway, has officially suspended all operations.
Parallel groundings and massive delays are reported at Hamad International (DOH) in Doha and Zayed International (AUH) in Abu Dhabi, effectively severing primary connection points between the West and the East.
Global carriers have acted swiftly to mitigate risks, resulting in a wave of cancellations.
Additional reporting from AP
Israel, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar closed their airspace on Saturday. Airspace in southern Syria was also closed, as were skies above Iran, Iraq, Kuwait and Bahrain and Oman’s Muscat International Airport, according to flight tracking website FlightRadar24.
Planes that were en route to cities like Tel Aviv and Dubai early Saturday were diverted or returned to where they took off from.
Dubai International Airport alone — the world’s busiest airport for international flights — reported more than 700 inbound and outbound flights canceled. The airport’s operator said flights were halted indefinitely at Dubai International and Dubai World Central—Al Maktoum International Airport on the Gulf city’s outskirts.
The situation is changing quickly and airlines urged passengers to check their flight status online before heading to the airport. Some airlines were issuing waivers to affected travelers, meaning fliers can rebook their flight plans without paying extra fees or higher fares.
Jonathan Escott and his fiance had arrived at the airport in Newcastle, England, only to find out that his direct flight to Dubai on Emirates airline was canceled, leaving everyone on the flight stuck there.
Escott left to go back to where he was staying with family, about an hour from the airport, but has no idea when he may be able to travel.
“No one knows,” Escott said. “No one really knows what’s going on with the conflict, really. Not Emirates, Emirates don’t have a clue. No one has a clue.”
The airspace closures were likely to have significant ripple effects for Dubai-based Emirates and many other airlines that fly in and out of the Middle East.
Numerous airlines canceled international flights to Dubai through the weekend, as India’s civil aviation agency designated much of the Middle East — including skies above Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Lebanon — as a high-security risk zone at all altitudes.
Air India canceled all flights to Mideast destinations. Turkish Airlines said flights to Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Iran and Jordan were suspended until Monday and flights to Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and Oman were suspended. The airline said additional cancellations may be announced.
U.S.-based Delta Airlines and United Airlines suspended flights to Tel Aviv at least through the weekend, while Dutch airline KLM had already announced earlier in the week that it was suspending flights to and from Tel Aviv.
Airlines including Lufthansa, Air France, Transavia, Qatar Airways, and Pegasus have canceled all flights to Lebanon.
Virgin Atlantic said it would avoid flying over Iraq, meaning flights to and from India, the Maldives and Riyadh could take slightly longer. The airline already was not flying over Iran and said all flights would carry appropriate fuel in case they need to reroute on short notice.
British Airways said flights to Tel Aviv and Bahrain will be suspended until next week, and flights to Amman, Jordan, will be canceled Saturday.
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