Tension in the air: What's happening with Middle East flights?
Flights to Europe and North America by Air India Halted Due to Extended Interruptions in Travel to the Middle East
In the heart of June 2025, the Middle East skies have been rocked by escalating tensions, leading to a series of disruptions in international flights. It's a turbulent time for travelers, and here's the lowdown on what's been going down.
Air India, not one to shy away from a storm, announced on the morning of June 24th that they were suspending all operations to the Middle East, along with routes connecting to the East Coast of North America and Europe. A spokesperson for the airline stated, "Amid the developing situation in the Middle East, Air India has ceased all operations to the region as well as to routes and from the East Coast of North America and Europe with immediate effect, until further notice."
Travelers, keep your cool! Air India is asking for patience as they navigate this crisis. They've requested understanding from affected passengers, assuring them that they're closely monitoring the situation. Qatar's airspace temporarily shut down on June 23rd to ensure the safety of citizens, residents, and visitors, but as of the next day, things appeared to have returned to normal. The United Arab Emirates and Bahrain reopened their airspaces following a temporary closure.
However, the situation remains volatile, with a number of international flights into the UAE and Qatar still cancelled or suspended. Air Canada, suspended from taking off between Toronto and Dubai since June 18th, plans to keep their flights grounded until July 3rd "as a precautionary measure." The suspension may be extended following a safety assessment with various authorities. United Airlines suspended flights from Newark, New Jersey, to Dubai until July 3rd, while KLM has halted operations to Dubai, as well as Riyadh and Dammam in Saudi Arabia. British Airways resumed normal operations to Dubai but has suspended flights to and from Doha until Wednesday, June 25th.
Stay tuned for updates, and don't forget to keep an eye on real-time travel advisories as the situation remains fluid. Safe travels, folks!
What's going on?
- Major airlines, such as British Airways, Air France–KLM, Singapore Airlines, Emirates, Lufthansa, United, and Delta, have experienced widespread cancellations and suspensions to and from Qatar, UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Israel, and Jordan.
- Airspace and airports in Qatar, UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain, and sections of Saudi Arabia have temporarily shut down, resulting in cancellations, diversions, and re-routings of flights. Airports like Doha’s Hamad International Airport and Dubai International Airport have seen cancellations, leaving thousands stranded or re-routed.
- The tension-filled skies of June 2025 have since seen many airports resume normal operations, but travel remains unstable, with advisories urging travelers to stay updated on real-time disruptions.
- The volatile landscape of finance and industry has been impacted by the ongoing tensions in the Middle East, causing numerous cancellations and suspensions for major airlines, such as British Airways, Air France–KLM, Singapore Airlines, Emirates, Lufthansa, United, and Delta, to destinations like Qatar, UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Israel, and Jordan.
- The disruptions have also led to temporary closures of airspace and airports in Qatar, UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain, and sections of Saudi Arabia, causing cancellations, diversions, and re-routings of flights, leaving many travelers stranded or re-routed in airports like Doha’s Hamad International Airport and Dubai International Airport.
- Despite some airports resuming normal operations, the overall travel scenario in the Middle East continues to be unstable due to the ongoing tension, with real-time advisories urging travelers to stay updated on any potential disruptions to their journeys and lifestyles.
