Latest update: Middle East airspace restrictions crisis

The aviation disruption across the Middle East continues to reshape global flight networks, with airlines operating reduced schedules and rerouting aircraft as regional airspace restrictions remain in place. 

What began as missile strikes targeting Iran has now evolved into a wider aviation crisis affecting one of the world’s most important air corridors. While some airspace has partially reopened, large sections of the region remain closed or heavily restricted, forcing airlines to adapt daily operations.

Live flight tracking data from Flightradar24 shows just how dramatically the conflict has altered traffic flows. Aircraft that would normally cross Iran, Iraq, and parts of the Gulf are instead rerouting around the region, while others are cancelling services altogether.

Flightradar24 tracking data shows the scale of the disruption, with normally busy flight corridors across Iran and Iraq largely empty as airlines reroute around closed airspace. The platform also shows sharply reduced departures from major Gulf hubs as only limited flight corridors remain available.

Gulf airspace remains fragmented and disrupted

The Middle East normally acts as a critical bridge between Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australia. Thousands of flights pass through the region each day, particularly through Gulf hubs such as Doha Hamad International Airport, Dubai International Airport, and Abu Dhabi International Airport.

However, several key areas of airspace remain unavailable to normal traffic, with several Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) still in place. Iran, Iraq, Syria, Bahrain, and Kuwait are closed for all civilian flights.

The United Arab Emirates’ airspace has limited restricted access by an Emergency Security Control of Air Traffic (ESCAT) zone, a system used during high-security situations. Within these zones, air traffic control dictates strict compliance with routing changes, immediate landings, or total closures to prioritise defence operations.

Since Sunday, flight activity has gradually increased from Emirates, Air Arabia, and flydubai as the United Arab Emirates allows limited operations to resume. By contrast, Etihad Airways and Qatar Airways operated a significantly lower number of flights due to the available and safe flight corridors.

Gulf airlines’ operations are still severely affected

Some Middle Eastern airlines have begun limited operations, namely those in the United Arab Emirates. However, most other carriers in the region are not operating while the security situation remains uncertain.

Emirates

Dubai-based carrier, Emirates, is operating a reduced flight schedule and has warned passengers that operations remain fluid and flights may be changed at short notice.

The airline has advised that customers transiting through Dubai will only be accepted for travel if their connecting flight is operating. 

See Emirates’ latest update here.

Etihad Airways

Etihad Airways has resumed a limited flight schedule between Abu Dhabi and several key destinations. Passengers are advised not to travel to the airport unless they have been contacted by the airline, and that all services permitted to operate are subject to operational and airspace approvals.

See Etihad Airways’ latest update and the destinations it is flying to here.

Qatar Airways

Operations at Qatar Airways remain heavily restricted. Following temporary authorisation from the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority, Qatar Airways intends to operate the following flight schedule in the coming days.

See Qatar Airways’ latest update here and a full list of destinations here.

flydubai

flydubai has stated it is operating flights across its network with a reduced schedule. Customers connecting through Dubai will only be accepted for travel if their connecting flight is operating, mirroring guidance from its partner airline, Emirates.  

Air Arabia

Subject to government approval, Sharjah-based Air Arabia is operating a reduced number of flights. The airline is operating a limited number of services from Sharjah, Abu Dhabi, and Ras Al Khaimah to selected destinations.

See Air Arabia’s latest update and full list of destinations here.

International airlines also suspend Middle Eastern routes

The disruption is not limited to Gulf airlines. Carriers across Europe, Asia, and North America have suspended flights to several Middle Eastern destinations while also avoiding regional airspace.

Airlines including British Airways, Lufthansa, Air France, KLM, SWISS, Air India, Cathay Pacific, United Airlines, and Delta Air Lines have cancelled flights to destinations such as Dubai, Tel Aviv, Beirut, and Amman.

For many long-haul routes between Europe and Asia, Middle Eastern airspace forms a critical corridor. With several countries closing their skies entirely and others operating under severe restrictions, airlines have been forced to reroute flights across the region, increasing flight times, fuel consumption, and operational costs, which are passed on to passengers through higher ticket prices.

Qantas reroutes its ultra-long-haul London Heathrow route

Australian airline Qantas has also adjusted its ultra-long-haul Perth–London service, with the outbound flight to the UK now operating via Singapore for a refuelling stop because longer routing is required to avoid restricted Middle Eastern airspace. The return service QF10 from London to Perth continues to operate non-stop, while the London-bound flight has been temporarily renumbered from QF9 to QF209 to reflect the operational change.

While some operations have resumed, the Middle East aviation network remains far from normal, affecting airlines across the globe. With multiple airspace closures still in place and flight corridors tightly controlled through safety regulations, airlines are expected to continue operating reduced schedules until the regional security situation stabilises.

The priority for all airlines is the safety of all its crew and passengers.