MIDDLE EAST – Flight tracking data showed near silence over several Middle Eastern countries on Saturday as airlines canceled services and diverted routes following US and Israeli attacks on Iran.
EU aviation regulator urges wide detours
The airspace over Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Lebanon, Bahrain and Jordan appeared almost empty in the early hours of Saturday, according to flight tracking platforms. Airlines around the world canceled flights to the region or took extensive detours around it after the attacks by the United States and Israel on Iran.
The civil aviation regulator of the European Union called on European airlines to avoid airspace affected by the ongoing military operations. Many carriers complied with this recommendation during the night and removed their services to the region from their schedules.
Flight plans collapsed at short notice, leaving passengers stranded at airports or learning of cancellations only via airline apps. Travelers who had planned to fly toward the Middle East on Saturday faced one of the most chaotic days for civil aviation in years.
Middle East hub role under severe strain
The affected region hosted several of the world’s busiest airports. Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha connected Europe with Asia, a role that had expanded since the Russian attack on Ukraine, as airlines had avoided Russian airspace and shifted to more southerly routes.
If the Middle East also dropped out as a transit corridor, major Europe–Asia routes would lose their most important intermediate hubs. Alternatives existed, but they were longer, more expensive, and limited in capacity.
Uncertain outlook for aviation and conflict
Conditions changed by the hour, and there was no clear timeline for when the airspace restrictions might be lifted. It remained unclear whether the escalation would stay confined to aviation or whether the broader conflict would intensify in the coming hours.