Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Egypt Air and More Disrupted by Over 500 Flight Cancellations and Delays at Major Middle East Airports Amid Israel Iran Conflict Airspace Restrictions

Published on June 18, 2025

By: Rana Pratap

Over 500 flights were cancelled or delayed across major Middle Eastern airports as Emirates, Qatar Airways, Kuwait Airways, Oman Air, EgyptAir, and other regional carriers faced widespread disruption caused by escalating airspace restrictions linked to the Israel-Iran conflict. The sudden shift in regional air safety protocols forced airlines to reroute or suspend operations at key hubs including Dubai, Ben Gurion, Queen Alia, Sharjah, Imam Khomeini, and Istanbul Sabiha, triggering a ripple effect of grounded planes, congested skies, and stranded passengers throughout the region.

The escalating tensions between Israel and Iran have caused ripple effects far beyond military and diplomatic circles—Middle Eastern skies are now in turmoil. In the past 24 hours alone, more than 500 flights were either cancelled or delayed across major regional airports as carriers scrambled to adjust operations in response to airspace restrictions and rerouting driven by the ongoing conflict.

At the center of the disruption are airlines like Emirates, Qatar Airways, Kuwait Airways, Oman Air, EgyptAir, Etihad, Royal Jordanian, FlyDubai, and Air Arabia, all of which faced severe operational setbacks. A combined total of 518 flights—154 cancellations and 364 delays—were recorded across six of the Middle East’s busiest aviation hubs: Dubai, Ben Gurion, Queen Alia, Sharjah, Imam Khomeini, and Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen.

Dubai Faces Regional Fallout

Dubai International Airport (DXB), one of the world’s busiest, reported 374 delays and 80 cancellations, with FlyDubai being the hardest hit. The low-cost carrier saw 68 flights canceled and 131 delayed, accounting for over 35% of its operations for the day. Emirates, Dubai’s flagship airline, avoided cancellations but still logged 128 delays—a sign of how congested rerouted air corridors have become as conflict-affected zones close down.

Though the UAE is not directly involved in the hostilities, it sits at the crossroads of multiple rerouted air paths. With traffic from Iran, Israel, and neighboring countries diverted away from military-sensitive zones, airlines using UAE-controlled airspace have faced cascading delays and last-minute schedule changes.

Ben Gurion Airport in Crisis Mode

Israel’s Ben Gurion International Airport saw the most severe direct impact. With 153 flight cancellations and just 2 delays, the airport was effectively on operational lockdown. Israir alone cancelled 52 flights, while El Al dropped 50 from its schedule. Even international carriers like United Airlines, Delta, Etihad, and Air France pulled out multiple flights, citing security risks and airspace restrictions over Israel and neighboring areas.

The cancellations mirror escalating defense measures across Israeli skies, where only select flights are permitted, and air traffic control remains highly restrictive. Foreign airlines continue to reassess their safety strategies, with some suspending operations entirely until the situation stabilizes.

Iran’s Imam Khomeini Airport Also Hit

Over in Tehran, Imam Khomeini International Airport experienced 26 cancellations and 4 delays, with Iranian carrier Mahan Air and FlyDubai among the most affected. Tensions have kept Iranian airspace under tight control, with many outbound and inbound routes suspended or rechanneled. The airspace closures, though not formally declared, have functioned as de facto restrictions for many international carriers who have rerouted or paused service to avoid potential danger.

Jordan, Sharjah, and Istanbul Feel the Shockwaves

Queen Alia International Airport in Amman saw 40 cancellations and 36 delays, primarily affecting Royal Jordanian, Pegasus Airlines, and Air Arabia. Though Jordan hasn’t shut its airspace, the country’s proximity to the Israeli border and Syria has led to heightened caution, flight reroutes, and operational delays.

Sharjah International Airport, another busy UAE hub, reported 26 cancellations and 51 delays, mostly centered around Air Arabia. Despite not being in the direct flight path of the conflict, regional network congestion and aircraft repositioning have slowed schedules significantly.

Meanwhile, Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport—a key transit point for East-West travel—registered 28 cancellations and 175 delays. Pegasus Airlines alone saw over 100 delayed flights, underscoring how regional tension in the Middle East can quickly spill into broader networks. While Turkey’s skies remain open, the sheer volume of rerouted traffic and cautionary protocols created a bottleneck in schedules.

Airlines Scramble to Adapt to a Shifting Sky

Across the region, airlines are facing a growing challenge: how to adapt quickly to a dynamic and volatile airspace environment. Qatar Airways, Etihad, Oman Air, Kuwait Airways, and EgyptAir are among those recalibrating their routes daily, seeking safer but longer paths across already congested corridors.

For passengers, the situation has meant long hours in terminals, missed connections, and last-minute cancellations. Many carriers have relaxed rebooking and refund policies, but with airspace corridors changing rapidly, the certainty of any schedule is fragile.

Warnings From Aviation Authorities

Civil aviation regulators in the region, along with organizations like the International Air Transport Association (IATA), have urged airlines to avoid overflying conflict zones and remain in close coordination with defense authorities. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has also issued updated conflict zone bulletins, advising caution when flying over Middle Eastern airspace.

Some governments have already started advising citizens to avoid non-essential travel through the region. Analysts warn that if the conflict intensifies or spreads further, more airspace closures could follow, potentially grounding even more flights and crippling regional air connectivity.

Here is a clear, airport-wise breakdown of Middle Eastern airline disruptions, showing both cancellations and delays at each of the six listed airports:

Dubai International Airport (DXB)

• FlyDubai:
  • 68 cancellations
  • 131 delays
• Emirates:
  • 0 cancellations
  • 128 delays
• Etihad Airways:
  • 0 cancellations
  • 0 delays
• Qatar Airways:
  • 0 cancellations
  • 2 delays
• Kuwait Airways:
  • 0 cancellations
  • 0 delays
• Oman Air:
  • 0 cancellations
  • 1 delay
• EgyptAir:
  • 0 cancellations
  • 0 delays
• Jazeera Airways:
  • 0 cancellations
  • 3 delays
• Flynas:
  • 0 cancellations
  • 6 delays
• Syrian Arab Airlines:
  • 1 cancellation
  • 0 delays

Ben Gurion International Airport (TLV)

• El Al:
  • 50 cancellations
  • 0 delays
• Israir:
  • 52 cancellations
  • 2 delays
• Etihad Airways:
  • 3 cancellations
  • 0 delays
• Qatar Airways:
  • Not listed
  • Likely rerouted or suspended

Queen Alia International Airport (AMM)

• Royal Jordanian:
  • 19 cancellations
  • 19 delays
• Air Arabia:
  • 5 cancellations
  • 0 delays
• Middle East Airlines:
  • 0 cancellations
  • 3 delays
• Qatar Airways:
  • 1 cancellation
  • 1 delay
• Jazeera Airways:
  • 0 cancellations
  • 2 delays
• EgyptAir:
  • 0 cancellations
  • 3 delays
• Etihad Airways:
  • 0 cancellations
  • 3 delays

Sharjah International Airport (SHJ

• Air Arabia:
  • 25 cancellations
  • 40 delays
• Qatar Airways:
  • 0 cancellations
  • 1 delay

Imam Khomeini International Airport (IKA)

• FlyDubai:
  • 8 cancellations
  • 0 delays
• Qatar Airways:
  • 4 cancellations
  • 0 delays
• Mahan Air:
  • 4 cancellations
  • 4 delays
• Air Arabia:
  • 2 cancellations
  • 0 delays

Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport (SAW)

• Pegasus Airlines (partly Turkey-based, serves Middle East routes):
  • 26 cancellations
  • 112 delays
• FlyDubai:
  • 2 cancellations
  • 2 delays
• Flynas:
  • 0 cancellations
  • 2 delays
• Kuwait Airways:
  • 0 cancellations
  • 2 delays
• Qatar Airways:
  • 0 cancellations
  • 2 delays
• Air Arabia Egypt:
  • 0 cancellations
  • 2 delays
• Air Arabia:
  • 0 cancellations
  • 1 delay
• flyadeal:
  • 0 cancellations
  • 2 delays

Over 500 flight cancellations and delays hit Emirates, Qatar Airways, Kuwait Airways, Oman Air, EgyptAir, and others as escalating airspace restrictions from the Israel-Iran conflict disrupted operations across major Middle East airports. The widespread rerouting and suspended routes caused chaos at hubs like Dubai, Ben Gurion, Sharjah, and more.

The Outlook: Uncertain Skies Ahead

With 518 flights already impacted in a single day, the Israel-Iran conflict has become one of the most disruptive aviation flashpoints in recent Middle Eastern history. Airlines like Emirates, Qatar Airways, and Royal Jordanian are bracing for more turbulence ahead, both literal and political.

As the skies over the Middle East grow increasingly unpredictable, the region’s carriers and passengers alike are caught in a holding pattern—waiting for clearer routes, calmer borders, and a path back to normalcy.