Staged Restart of Operations Announced at Gulf Hubs Amid Mass Flight Cancellations
The escalation of the armed conflict involving Israel, the United States, and Iran has triggered unprecedented disruption across Middle Eastern commercial aviation. With over 4,000 flights cancelled daily, the region’s major carriers are adjusting operational schedules while navigating far-reaching industrial repercussions affecting hundreds of thousands of passengers.
Magnitude of Regional Network Impact
The operational outlook at the Persian Gulf’s primary connection hubs shows critical levels of inactivity. According to data from aviation analytics firm Cirium, the following cancellation levels for global flights to key destinations were recorded as of Monday morning:
- Bahrain: 92% of flights grounded.
- Israel: 81% of flights cancelled.
- Qatar: 79% of operations suspended.
- United Arab Emirates: 71% of services affected.
Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport stated that Israeli airspace would reopen Monday night for civil aviation under an “extremely limited format”. Starting Tuesday, “flight operations will gradually expand based on the security situation,” with only Israeli carriers expected to operate.
Operational Status of Major Carriers
Emirates and the Dubai Hubs
Dubai Airports announced a “limited resumption of operations” effective Monday night. This partial reopening involves the region’s two main airports: Dubai International (DXB) and Dubai World Central (DWC).
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Emirates has confirmed it will prioritize passengers with existing bookings that were previously cancelled. The airline will notify rebooked customers directly and has strongly urged travelers not to proceed to the airport unless they have received official flight confirmation.
Etihad Airways and Special Operations
Etihad Airways is maintaining a suspension of its scheduled services, tentatively until 14:00 local time on Wednesday. However, the carrier has operated ad-hoc flights for aircraft repositioning, cargo, and repatriation in coordination with UAE authorities.
According to Flightradar24 tracking data, notable movements include flights to destinations such as London Heathrow, Moscow, Paris, Delhi, and Karachi.
Qatar Airways and Airspace Closure
Qatar Airways has temporarily suspended all operations and will only resume service once the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority (QCAA) declares the airspace safe for reopening.
Airlines are urging passengers to update their contact information in their bookings and to check their flight status online before traveling to any airport.
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