Lead
Commercial aviation across the Middle East has been largely halted for a third consecutive day after joint US-Israeli strikes on Iran and subsequent retaliatory attacks, prompting multiple nations to partially or fully close their airspace as of 2 March 2026. Major Gulf hubs — including Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha — suspended operations, producing widespread cancellations, diversions and thousands of passengers stranded worldwide. Flight-tracking services reported more than 2,000 cancellations tied to seven key Gulf airports, and at least 145 aircraft were diverted early in the disruption. Airlines and authorities are issuing rolling updates; travellers are urged to check carrier notices before travelling to airports.
Key takeaways
- Grounding persists into a third day (2 March 2026) with Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria and the UAE announcing partial or full airspace closures.
- More than 2,000 flights to and from seven Gulf-area airports were cancelled, according to Flightradar24; airports affected include Dubai International and Hamad International.
- At least 145 aircraft were diverted to alternate airports such as Athens, Istanbul and Rome in the first 48 hours, per FlightAware data.
- Key Gulf hubs disrupted: Dubai International (DXB), Zayed International/Abu Dhabi (AUH), Hamad International/Doha (DOH), Sharjah, Kuwait, Bahrain and Al Maktoum (DWC).
- Gulf carriers Emirates, Etihad and Qatar Airways — which collectively route roughly 90,000 passengers daily through the hubs (Cirium estimate) — suspended or reduced operations regionally.
- Etihad resumed a limited set of flights from Abu Dhabi on 2 March (first departure EY67 to London at 14:39 local time) after announcing a temporary suspension through 3 March.
- Incidents at regional airports included reported injuries at Dubai International and casualties reported at Abu Dhabi after a drone strike; Kuwait reported strike impacts at its airport.
Background
The immediate cause of the aviation shutdown is a rapid escalation between the United States, Israel and Iran that included strikes followed by Iranian retaliatory launches directed at Israel and Gulf states hosting US forces. Governments in the region moved to restrict or close airspace citing safety concerns; air navigation authorities typically close airspace when missile or drone activity presents an unacceptable hazard to civil aircraft.
Gulf hubs have become global transit points over the past two decades: Emirates, Etihad and Qatar Airways together create dense connecting traffic linking Europe, Asia and Africa. Disruption at these nodes rapidly cascades into global delays because north‑south and east‑west corridors through the region carry many long‑haul flights. Aviation analytics firms, national regulators and airlines coordinate reroutes, but closures add flight time, fuel costs and complexity to already tight airline schedules.
Main event
On 2 March 2026, multiple states announced at least partial airspace closures; authorities in Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, the UAE and others restricted civilian flights, and several airports reported temporary suspension of operations. Dubai Airports confirmed suspension of all movements at Dubai International and Dubai World Central until further notice; Doha’s Hamad International halted aircraft movements pending a safe reopening by Qatari civil aviation authorities.
Flightradar24 reported that more than 2,000 flights tied to seven Gulf airports were cancelled in the immediate aftermath, with early diversions routing aircraft to Mediterranean and European airports. FlightAware recorded at least 145 diversions for planes en route to destinations such as Dubai and Tel Aviv on the first day of disruption; one long-haul flight remained airborne for nearly 15 hours before returning to its origin.
Etihad had initially announced a suspension of all Abu Dhabi flights until 14:00 on 3 March local time, but resumed limited departures on the afternoon of 2 March; EY67 to London departed Zayed International at 14:39 local time. Airport sources said buses were transporting passengers from hotels and that some travellers had checked out as operations began a phased restart for selected routes.
Across the region, airlines issued rolling cancellations and adjustments: national carriers and international operators from Europe, North America and Asia temporarily suspended services to affected Middle East destinations, citing airspace closures and safety assessments by local civil aviation authorities.
Analysis & implications
Operationally, the closures sever critical air corridors linking Europe and Asia. The main east‑west airway over Iraq — usually one of the busiest long‑haul routes — showed minimal traffic on live tracking maps, underscoring how quickly the conflict cut established routings. Airlines now face the dual task of protecting passenger safety and managing complex rebooking, crew rotations and aircraft positioning amid uncertain reopening timelines.
Financially, rerouting flights around closed airspace increases block hours and fuel consumption; for long‑haul carriers this can translate to significantly higher operating costs per flight. If the disruption persists beyond a few days, airlines may need to adjust schedules for longer, generate additional crew costs and possibly seek insurance or government support. Ticket prices on some segments could rise if capacity is reduced for an extended period.
For passengers, regulatory protections vary. In the UK and EU, carriers must provide assistance (meals, accommodation where appropriate) and refunds for cancelled journeys, but compensation for extraordinary events such as armed conflict is typically not payable. Consumer groups have advised travellers to claim assistance and refunds where entitlements apply, while expecting limited compensation for cancellations driven by security events.
Comparison & data
| Airport | Reported status (2 March 2026) |
|---|---|
| Dubai International (DXB) | All operations suspended; reported injuries at terminal |
| Hamad International (DOH) | Movements suspended pending airspace reopening |
| Zayed International/Abu Dhabi (AUH) | Operations paused; one reported fatality and seven injuries after strike |
| Sharjah, Kuwait, Bahrain, DWC | Significant cancellations and service suspensions; regional effects |
The table encapsulates airport-level suspensions reported on 2 March 2026. Flightradar24 cited more than 2,000 cancellations linked to seven Gulf airports; FlightAware logged at least 145 diversions early in the incident. Cirium’s modeling of hub throughput indicates roughly 90,000 passengers typically transit the three largest Gulf carriers’ hubs daily, which helps explain the rapid, large-scale passenger impact when those hubs close.
Reactions & quotes
“No one really knows what’s going on with the conflict—no one has a clear timeline.”
Passenger Jonathan Escott (stranded traveller)
Escott’s remark, made after his Newcastle–Dubai flight was cancelled, captures the uncertainty many passengers reported while waiting for airline updates and rerouting options.
“Prepare for delays or cancellations for the next few days as these attacks evolve and hopefully end.”
Henry Harteveldt, airline industry analyst, Atmosphere Research Group
Harteveldt’s comment reflects industry warnings that operational disruption will likely continue while the security situation remains unstable, with direct implications for schedules and customer experience.
“Given the extraordinary circumstances, passengers will not be entitled to compensation, but airlines should provide assistance for delays and refunds for cancelled journeys when rules apply.”
Ella Jo Rhodes, consumer expert, Which? (UK consumer organisation)
Which? summarised passenger rights in the UK and EU and emphasised that carriers must still offer care and refunds where regulatory frameworks require it.
Unconfirmed
- Attribution of every reported Gulf‑airport strike to a single actor remains unconfirmed; some states attributed attacks to Iran but public Iranian claims were limited.
- Exact counts of casualties and infrastructure damage at each affected airport remain subject to confirmation from official investigations and ministry statements.
Bottom line
The operational shutdown across much of Middle Eastern airspace is a direct and immediate effect of a rapid escalation of regional hostilities. The closure of major Gulf hubs has ripple effects throughout global aviation, with thousands of cancelled flights, numerous diversions and a large population of stranded passengers whose itineraries may remain uncertain for several days.
Travellers should monitor official airline and civil aviation authority updates, seek refunds or rebooking where eligible, and expect longer routing and higher fares if the disruption persists. Airlines and governments will face substantial logistical and economic challenges in restoring normal operations while ensuring passenger safety.