More Than 3,400 Flights Cancelled Across the Middle East as Airspace Closures Deepen

More than 3,400 flights were cancelled on Sunday across seven major Middle Eastern airports  Dubai International (DXB), Hamad International in Doha (DOH), Zayed International in Abu Dhabi (AUH), Sharjah (SHJ), Kuwait (KWI), Bahrain (BAH), and Dubai World Central (DWC) as widespread airspace closures continue in the aftermath of US–Israel strikes on Iran.

Flight-tracking data shows that the cancellations stem from the near‑total shutdown of regional airspace, with Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Israel, Syria, and the UAE all imposing closures or severe restrictions. This has effectively halted operations at the Gulf’s largest hubs, which normally serve as critical transit points linking Europe, Africa, and Asia.  NewsNation

Dubai International Airport, one of the world’s busiest hubs, has reported injuries following missile and drone incidents linked to the ongoing regional conflict. Abu Dhabi’s Zayed International Airport has confirmed casualties after a drone strike, while Kuwait International Airport has also reported strikes amid the broader escalation, according to NewsNation.

These incidents, combined with widespread airspace closures, have left tens of thousands of passengers stranded across the region. Many were diverted mid‑flight or are now stuck at departure airports worldwide, and airlines say they cannot provide reliable estimates for when normal operations will resume.

The shutdown has triggered significant disruption far beyond the Middle East. More than 19,000 flights were delayed globally, according to FlightAware, as airlines across Europe, Asia, and Australia rerouted aircraft to avoid closed or restricted airspace.

These diversions have added hours to flight times, increased fuel burn, and placed additional strain on crew scheduling and fleet operations. The cascading impact is now being felt across multiple continents as carriers attempt to stabilise their networks while the regional situation remains unpredictable.

With NOTAMs still active across multiple FIRs and military activity ongoing, aviation authorities have not provided a clear timeline for reopening. Airlines are preparing for the possibility that disruptions may extend beyond 2 March, depending on the security situation and further government directives.