Feb 28 - Several global carriers suspended or adjusted flights across the Middle East on Saturday after reported strikes by the United States and Israel on Iran, prompting a rapid reduction in commercial traffic in the region.
Maps published by the flight-tracking service Flightradar24 showed airspace over Iran and Iraq was largely empty on Saturday morning. In response, a range of airlines issued operational changes affecting services to and from destinations in Israel, Lebanon, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Oman and other regional hubs.
Airline actions and affected routes
- Air France-KLM - Air France cancelled flights to and from Tel Aviv and Beirut for Saturday. KLM moved forward a planned suspension of its Amsterdam-Tel Aviv service and cancelled the flight scheduled for Saturday. The Dutch division had earlier announced a halt starting on Sunday but expedited that timeline; only one Tel Aviv flight had been planned for Saturday.
- IndiGo - The carrier said it was monitoring regional updates and provided no immediate cancellations in its statement.
- Japan Airlines - Japan Airlines cancelled a Saturday service from Tokyo Haneda to Doha and also cancelled the return leg scheduled for March 1, according to Nikkei.
- Lufthansa - The German airline suspended flights to and from Tel Aviv, Beirut and Oman through March 7, and announced cancellations of services to and from Dubai for Saturday and Sunday. Lufthansa also said it would refrain from operating through Israeli, Lebanese, Jordanian, Iraqi and Iranian airspace until March 7.
- Virgin Atlantic - The carrier said it would temporarily avoid Iraqi airspace, which led to pre-planned rerouting for some flights, and cancelled its VS400 service from London Heathrow to Dubai on Saturday.
- Wizz Air - Wizz Air halted flights to and from Israel, Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Amman with immediate effect until March 7, and said operational decisions would continue to be reviewed and the schedule could be adjusted as the situation evolves.
The announcements reflect near-term precautionary steps by carriers operating in and through a region where airspace access is rapidly changing. Airlines cited safety and evolving operational conditions in deciding to cancel, suspend or reroute services. Some carriers announced fixed suspension windows through March 7, while others indicated ongoing monitoring and potential further adjustments.
These measures have immediate implications for passenger travel and airline operations across the region and for connecting services globally. As carriers revise routings to avoid specific national airspaces, schedule disruptions and capacity reductions are likely to continue until carriers resume normal routing or provide updated timelines tailored to their networks.
Where details were limited in carrier statements, airlines generally framed actions as temporary and subject to further review as the security and airspace situation develops.