Middle East Flight Disruptions 2026: Which Airlines and Airports Are Back in Operation?

Middle East aviation is dealing with its worst disruption since the COVID-19 pandemic. Since 28 February 2026, over 11,000 flights have been cancelled and more than 1 million passengers have been stranded, following the closure of six major Flight Information Regions (FIRs) — covering Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Israel, and neighbouring airspaces.

For Indian travellers, the impact is sharp and immediate. IndiGo, Air India, and Air India Express together cancelled over 1,200 flights connecting India to the Gulf and onward European destinations. If you hold a ticket to Dubai, Doha, Abu Dhabi, Beirut, Riyadh, or Tel Aviv — you need to know exactly where things stand.

This article is your real-time tracker: which airports are open, which airlines have resumed, and what you should do today if your flight is affected.

TL;DR: Over 11,000 Middle East flights were cancelled after six airspace regions closed on 28 Feb 2026, stranding 1 million+ passengers (Cirium, 2026). Emirates is back at ~60% capacity, Qatar Airways launched repatriation flights on 7 March, and Ben Gurion Airport is reopening in phases — but EASA’s no-fly advisory extends to 11 March 2026.

What Actually Triggered the Mass Flight Cancellations?

On 28 February 2026, military strikes led to the immediate shutdown of six Flight Information Regions (FIRs) across Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Israel, and adjacent conflict-zone airspaces. Within hours, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) issued Conflict Zone Information Bulletin CZIB 2026-03-R1, warning airlines not to fly at any altitude over 11 countries — Bahrain, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and adjacent conflict zones. That bulletin has since been extended to 11 March 2026 (EASA, March 2026).

The fallout was immediate. Dubai International Airport (DXB) — the world’s busiest international hub — saw 85% of its scheduled flights wiped out within 72 hours. By 6 March 2026, DXB alone had logged over 4,000 cancellations. On a single day — 1 March 2026 — 3,400 flights were cancelled across just seven airports (Cirium via Fortune, March 2026).

Why does this hit so hard globally? Middle Eastern carriers hold a 9.5% share of global revenue passenger kilometres and the three Gulf hubs — Dubai, Doha, and Abu Dhabi — together move roughly 90,000 transit passengers every single day (IATA, January 2026). When those hubs go quiet, ripples reach every continent.

Over 11,000 flights into, out of, and within the Middle East were cancelled since 28 February 2026, affecting more than 1 million passengers, per aviation analytics firm Cirium (Fortune, March 2026). On 1 March 2026 alone, 3,400 cancellations were recorded across seven Middle East airports — the worst single-day disruption in the region’s modern aviation history.

Which Airports Are Affected — and What’s Their Status Right Now?

The airport-level damage isn’t equal. Here’s a snapshot as of 8 March 2026:

Dubai International Airport (DXB) — Partially Operational
Down to ~15% capacity on 1 March; now recovering to 60–70% as Emirates resumes a reduced schedule. Still far from normal, but the trajectory is improving.

Hamad International Airport, Doha (DOH) — Partially Operational
Qatar Airways launched limited repatriation flights on 7 March, serving London, Paris, Madrid, Rome, and Frankfurt. Priority goes to families with children, the elderly, and medical cases.

Zayed International Airport, Abu Dhabi (AUH) — Reduced Operations
Etihad resumed a limited schedule from 6 March, currently listing 70+ destinations for flights between 6–19 March.

Ben Gurion Airport, Tel Aviv (TLV) — Phased Reopening
Fully closed since 28 February. Now allowing one repatriation aircraft per hour in Phase 1, with Phase 2 targeting up to 10,000 arrivals per day (Times of Israel, 4–6 March 2026). More than 150,000 Israelis were stranded abroad; Israeli carriers El Al, Israir, and Arkia are operating rescue flights from 22 cities including New York, Bangkok, and key European hubs.

Beirut Rafic Hariri International Airport (BEY) — Limited Operations
Ground activity continues for select regional carriers; international connections are limited pending airspace clearance.

Bahrain International Airport (BAH) — Closed
The Bahrain FIR remains within the EASA restricted zone with no commercial flights.

Which Airlines Have Suspended Middle East Routes?

The suspension list reads like a who’s-who of global aviation. Here’s the full picture:

Gulf Carriers (partially or fully suspended):
– Emirates — Suspended all flights from 28 Feb; partially resumed from 3 March
– Qatar Airways — Suspended from 28 Feb; repatriation-only from 7 March
– Etihad Airways — Suspended from 28 Feb; limited resume from 6 March

European Carriers (all suspended):
– Air France — Suspended to/from UAE, Qatar, Israel, Lebanon, Jordan
– British Airways — All Middle East flights suspended
– Lufthansa Group (Lufthansa, Swiss, Austrian, Brussels) — Tehran until 30 April; Tel Aviv until 22 March; Beirut until 28 March
– Turkish Airlines — Suspended; partial resumption to select destinations from 5–6 March

Indian Carriers:
– IndiGo — Cancelled 162+ Middle East and onward services; suspension extended
– Air India — Cancelled 50+ international flights; all Middle East operations suspended
– Air India Express — 55+ flights cancelled

Asian & Other Carriers:
– Singapore Airlines — Suspended Middle East routes; rerouting long-haul via alternatives
– Japan Airlines — Suspended Middle East overflights
– Delta Air Lines — All Middle East and Israel routes suspended
– United Airlines — Middle East services suspended
– Gulf Air, PIA — Full suspension

Indian carriers collectively cancelled over 1,221 flights by 4 March 2026, with IndiGo alone suspending 162 Middle East services and Air India cancelling 50+ international flights, according to AirHelp and Travel & Tour World (March 2026). This makes the current crisis the single largest disruption to India-Gulf air connectivity since the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic.

Which Airlines Are Gradually Resuming Operations?

Recovery is happening — but unevenly across carriers and hubs. Here’s the confirmed picture as of 8 March 2026:

Emirates (Dubai) is leading the comeback. As of 7 March, the airline is operating 106 daily flights to 83 destinations — roughly 60% of normal capacity — and has publicly committed to restoring 100% of its schedule within days, subject to airspace status (Euronews, 7 March 2026).

Etihad Airways (Abu Dhabi) resumed a limited schedule from 6 March, currently listing 70+ destinations for the 6–19 March window. More routes are expected to open as the EASA advisory is reviewed.

Qatar Airways (Doha) is in repatriation mode only — flying to London Heathrow, Paris CDG, Madrid Barajas, Rome Fiumicino, and Frankfurt as of 7 March. Priority boarding goes to families, the elderly, and medical passengers. Full commercial services haven’t restarted.

Turkish Airlines has a geographic advantage: Istanbul sits outside the restricted FIR zone. The carrier is resuming select routes where flight paths avoid the 11 restricted countries.

El Al, Israir, and Arkia (Israel) are flying rescue missions from 22 destinations globally, including New York JFK, Bangkok Suvarnabhumi, and major European cities. Ben Gurion’s phased reopening gives these carriers a path to scaling back up.

Royal Jordanian is operating limited flights from Amman — one of the few Middle East capitals not under full restriction.

IndiGo, Air India, Air India Express — still under extended suspension as of 8 March. Expect no significant resumption before 12 March 2026 at the earliest, pending EASA’s advisory review.

How Are Indian Travellers Affected — and What Should You Do Now?

India is uniquely exposed to this crisis. The Gulf region — UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, and Qatar — is home to over 9 million Indian expatriates, and the India-Gulf corridor is one of the world’s densest aviation routes. Disruptions here don’t just cancel holidays; they separate families and strand workers.

By 4 March 2026, Indian carriers had cancelled 1,221 flights combined: IndiGo (162+ Middle East services), Air India (50+), and Air India Express (55+) (AirHelp, March 2026). The numbers keep climbing.

What should you do if you’re affected?

1. Claim your refund or free rebook. IndiGo, Air India, and Air India Express are all offering no-fee rescheduling and full refunds for flights cancelled due to the airspace closures. Go directly to the airline portal or contact HappyFares support.
2. Don’t buy new tickets to the Gulf right now. With EASA’s advisory live until 11 March (and possibly extended), any ticket you buy today could be cancelled again tomorrow.
3. If you’re already stranded, register with the nearest Indian Embassy. Both the Ministry of External Affairs and individual embassies are coordinating repatriation support.
4. Consider alternate routing via Colombo or Bangkok if you have an urgent onward connection — some passengers are finding workarounds through non-Gulf hubs.

What Is the Broader Economic Cost of This Disruption?

So how bad is it really, in financial terms? Each rerouted wide-body aircraft now adds $6,000–$7,500 in operating costs per flight hour, with diversions stretching routes by 300–800 nautical miles and 45–120 extra minutes of flight time (Fortune, March 2026). Fuel — already 25–35% of airline operating costs — is being stretched even further.

Air cargo has taken a parallel hit. Global air cargo capacity has fallen 18% since the FIRs closed, as freighter routes through the Middle East have been suspended or diverted. Freight rates are under significant upward pressure — a problem that’ll eventually show up in e-commerce delivery times and pharmaceutical supply chains.

The timing is especially painful because the Middle East had been aviation’s great success story heading into 2026. IATA’s full-year 2025 data showed Middle Eastern carriers achieving 6.7–6.8% traffic growth with a net profit margin of 8.7% — the highest of any aviation region globally (IATA, January 2026). A single week has undone months of momentum.

Middle Eastern carriers achieved a net profit margin of 8.7% and 6.7% traffic growth in 2025 — the strongest performance of any global aviation region — according to IATA’s January 2026 industry outlook. The February 2026 disruption is expected to erase most first-quarter 2026 gains at Emirates, Qatar Airways, and Etihad, with combined Q1 revenue losses estimated in the US$1–1.5 billion range.

When Will Normal Air Travel to the Middle East Return?

That’s the question everyone’s asking. And the honest answer is: it hinges on geopolitics. But history gives us a useful benchmark.

When the Israel-Lebanon ceasefire was reached on 27 November 2024, airline recovery was surprisingly fast. Turkish Airlines resumed Beirut flights within 6 days. Royal Jordanian was back in 4 days. Emirates and Qatar Airways returned within 12 days. Lebanon’s Middle East Airlines (MEA) restored 32 additional routes and expanded to 30+ destinations within two weeks. Even cautious European carriers like Air France returned within 5 weeks (ch-aviation, December 2024).

The pattern is consistent: once a political resolution arrives, most airlines move within 2–6 weeks — sometimes faster, because they’re competing for market share on high-demand routes.

On the infrastructure front, there’s an interesting development brewing. Lebanon’s second airport — Rene Mouawad Airport (Qlayaat) in northern Lebanon — is now targeting a summer 2026 commercial opening, per PM Nawaf Salam’s announcement. With 26+ developer proposals already received and Beirut’s long-term plan aiming for 16 million annual passengers by 2030, Lebanon is clearly building for resilience (Al Jazeera, February 2026).

⚠️ Disclaimer: Prices and fees quoted are current as of March 2026 and may vary by route, booking date, and fare class. Always verify the latest fares on the airline’s official website before booking.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are flights to Dubai operating right now?

Emirates is running approximately 60% of its normal schedule as of 8 March 2026 — 106 daily flights to 83 destinations. But many foreign carriers including Air France, Lufthansa, and British Airways haven’t resumed. Check your specific airline’s advisory page before booking anything new.

Can I fly to Israel right now?

Ben Gurion Airport is in a phased reopening as of this week. Phase 1 allows one repatriation aircraft per hour. El Al, Israir, and Arkia are running rescue flights from 22 global cities. Full commercial operations are expected to resume gradually over the next 1–2 weeks, subject to the security situation.

My IndiGo or Air India flight to the Gulf was cancelled — what are my options?

Both airlines are offering fee-free rescheduling and full refunds for all flights cancelled due to Middle East airspace closures. Don’t wait — initiate your refund or rebook request through the airline’s app or via your HappyFares booking. Processing times are longer than usual given the volume of claims.

When will the Middle East airspace fully reopen?

EASA’s Conflict Zone Information Bulletin (CZIB 2026-03-R1) is valid through 11 March 2026. Whether it extends depends on the geopolitical situation. Based on the 2024 Israel-Lebanon ceasefire precedent, most major airlines resume within 2–6 weeks of a resolution.

Is it safe to book new flights to the Middle East now?

Not yet. Avoid booking new tickets to Dubai, Doha, Abu Dhabi, Tel Aviv, Beirut, Riyadh, or Bahrain until the EASA advisory is reviewed (currently valid to 11 March). Keep checking HappyFares for live availability updates and price alerts once routes reopen.

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Conclusion

The Middle East aviation crisis of 2026 is real, fast-moving, and directly affecting millions of Indian travellers. Over 11,000 flights cancelled, 1 million+ passengers stranded, and the world’s three biggest Gulf hubs knocked to a fraction of their normal capacity — all within a week.

The good news? Recovery is already underway. Emirates is back at 60% and targeting 100%. Qatar Airways has launched repatriation flights. Ben Gurion is opening in phases. And if the 2024 ceasefire is any guide, airlines move fast to reclaim their routes once conditions allow.

Key takeaways:
– Avoid booking new Middle East flights until at least 12 March 2026
– If your flight was cancelled, claim a fee-free rebook or full refund from your airline
– Emirates, Etihad, and Qatar Airways are leading the Gulf recovery
– Indian carriers (IndiGo, Air India) remain largely suspended as of 8 March 2026
– Set price alerts — fares will dip as routes reopen and airlines compete for pent-up demand

We’re updating this page daily as the situation evolves.

Last updated: 8 March 2026 by the HappyFares Travel Desk. For real-time flight availability, cancellations, and rebooking — visit happyfares.in.