Airlines have diverted and canceled multiple flights across the Middle East following Iran’s missile strike on a U.S. military base in Qatar late Sunday, triggering widespread airspace closures and travel delays.
According to aviation data firm Cirium, more than 20 commercial aircraft bound for Doha were rerouted. An additional four flights to Dubai turned around mid-air. Airspace was temporarily closed in Qatar, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates, said flight tracking platform Flightradar24.
"We are operating with flight paths well distanced from conflict areas," Emirates said in a customer advisory, warning of potential delays.
Air India announced a complete halt of flights through the region, affecting routes between India, North America, and Europe. Flights already airborne were redirected or sent back to origin airports.
“This is a disruption beyond the airline’s control,” Air India stated on X.
British Airways also cancelled its Doha services through Wednesday, while other European airlines, including Air France, Finnair, and Iberia, paused flights or delayed resuming suspended routes.
U.S. carriers American Airlines and United Airlines had already suspended services to Doha and Dubai, respectively, earlier this month amid rising regional tensions.
These new flight disruptions add to ongoing airspace challenges facing global airlines, already navigating longer routes due to Russian and Ukrainian airspace restrictions since 2022.
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