Global Flight Cancellations 2026: Airlines Suspend Routes Amid Middle East Crisis

The ongoing war in Iran has triggered widespread disruptions across global air travel, forcing the closure of major Middle Eastern aviation hubs — including Dubai, Doha, and Abu Dhabi — and leaving tens of thousands of passengers stranded worldwide. Airlines across Europe, Asia, North America, and the Middle East have been compelled to suspend or significantly reduce services to and from affected regions, with cancellation periods stretching from weeks to several months.

Among the carriers impacted, major European airlines have taken aggressive precautionary measures. Greece's Aegean Airlines has grounded routes to multiple destinations including Tel Aviv, Beirut, Amman, Baghdad, Erbil, Dubai, and Riyadh, with some suspensions extending as far as late May. Germany's Lufthansa Group — encompassing Lufthansa, Swiss, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, and ITA Airways — has halted flights to several Middle Eastern cities through late March and April, while suspending Tehran routes until the end of April. British Airways parent company IAG has pushed back Abu Dhabi flights indefinitely and paused Doha, Dubai, Bahrain, and Amman routes into late March.

North American and Asian carriers have equally felt the strain. Air Canada suspended Dubai flights through late March and Tel Aviv service through May. Delta Air Lines pushed its Atlanta–Tel Aviv resumption all the way to August. Japan Airlines, Cathay Pacific, and Malaysia Airlines have each suspended key Gulf routes, reflecting growing concerns about airspace safety across the region.

Gulf-based carriers Emirates and Etihad Airways are operating reduced or limited schedules following a partial airspace reopening, while Qatar Airways has announced a revised, limited flight program running through March 28 amid the ongoing closure of Qatari airspace.

Low-cost carriers such as Wizz Air, Pegasus Airlines, and Norwegian Air have also pulled back significantly, with some route suspensions extending into September 2026. Passengers are strongly advised to check directly with their airlines for the latest updates before traveling.