Several Airlines Including Turkish Airlines, Emirates and Qatar Airways Suspend Iran Flights Amid Nationwide Protests

Several major international airlines have suspended or cancelled flights to Iran as nationwide protests intensify, prompting heightened concerns over airspace safety and operational reliability.

The disruptions began late in the week as demonstrations spread across major cities, accompanied by communication blackouts and increased security restrictions around key transport hubs.

Turkish Airlines, Emirates, Qatar Airways, FlyDubai, Pegasus and Austrian Airlines were among the carriers that paused selected services as demonstrations spread across major Iranian cities. Airlines said the decisions were precautionary, reflecting evolving security assessments and communication challenges linked to intermittent internet restrictions.

Turkish Airlines cancelled a number of flights to Tehran, Tabriz and Mashhad, noting that temporary adjustments are standard practice when regional conditions become unpredictable. Emirates also halted several rotations between Dubai and Tehran, with some services resuming the following day depending on operational feasibility.

Qatar Airways suspended its Doha–Tehran flights at the end of the week, while FlyDubai cancelled services to multiple Iranian cities before gradually restoring limited operations. Pegasus Airlines and Austrian Airlines made similar short‑term cancellations, citing the need to ensure safe and reliable operations amid the unrest.

The latest wave of protests, driven by economic pressures and rising inflation, has led to increased security presence around key transport hubs and sporadic communication blackouts.