US-Iran Conflict Triggers Global Flight Disruptions

An Emirates Boeing 777 awaits departure at a gate in Dubai International Airport as another aircraft approaches landing on the runway, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, August 17, 2022.

The US strikes on Iranian nuclear and military sites have sparked a wave of global travel disruptions, grounding hundreds of flights and closing airspace across the Middle East.

The unrest escalated after President Donald Trump ordered bombings on three Iranian facilities over the weekend. In retaliation, Iran launched missile attacks on the US Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar on Monday. Hours earlier, Qatar had closed its airspace, with both the US and UK advising citizens in the country to shelter in place.

The region remains volatile following Israel’s surprise bombardment of Iran earlier this month, which ignited a series of deadly missile and drone exchanges. As a result, airspace closures and airport shutdowns have expanded, particularly across Qatar and the UAE—two major aviation hubs linking flights worldwide.

Singapore Airlines cancelled flights to and from Dubai through midweek, citing “security assessments of the geopolitical situation.” British Airways suspended its Doha routes until Wednesday, saying, “Safety is always our highest priority” and that the situation remains under constant review.

Air India also suspended all operations to the region and halted flights connecting the East Coast of North America and Europe, rerouting flights around the closed airspaces. The airline is still recovering from a deadly crash earlier this month that claimed at least 270 lives.

By Monday afternoon, global flight tracker FlightAware reported 705 cancellations, with Dubai International Airport experiencing the highest number—75 inbound and outbound. Air India led individual carriers with 38 cancellations.

Experts stress that while such disruptions are frustrating, they are vital to ensuring passenger safety. “The Qataris did the absolutely right thing to close their airspace because of the threat of conflict,” said Hassan Shahidi, CEO of the Flight Safety Foundation.

Flightradar24 also confirmed temporary closures of UAE airspace, though some flights resumed after several hours of diversions.

Ian Petchenik, director of communications at Flightradar24, noted that Monday marked a “dramatic increase” in conflict-related flight disruptions. “These closures reflect the efforts of airlines, air traffic controllers, and flight crews to keep everyone safe,” he said.

With the duration and scale of the war uncertain, experts warn of long-term implications for global air travel and evacuation routes. Shahidi emphasised the importance of avoiding another tragedy like Malaysia Airlines Flight 17, which was shot down over Ukraine in 2014, killing 298 people.

“We are all praying for a resolution to this conflict,” he said. “Civilian air travel must be protected. We cannot allow history to repeat itself.”