Middle East Airspace Empty as Qatar, UAE, Bahrain, Iran, Jordan, and Others Shut Down Airspace Due to US-Israel Strikes on Iran, Triggering Travel Delays, Cancellations, and Multiple Reroutings on Europe-US to Asia Routes

Written By: Jishnoo Banerjee

Jishnoo Banerjee

A published author with over 9 years of experience in writing, poetry, and novel creation. Starting out on social media, Jishnoo gained recognition for engaging content in both English and Bengali. With a strong background as a news content writer, Jishnoo now contributes to a prestigious global travel magazine. Known for blending creative writing with journalism, the work seamlessly combines artistic expression with insightful reporting across different platforms.

See Full Bio

February 28, 2026 4:58 PM

Image generated with Ai

The escalating conflict between the U.S. and Israel on one side and Iran on the other has led to an unprecedented shutdown of airspace across the Middle East. Following U.S.-Israel strikes on Iran, countries like Qatar, the UAE, Bahrain, Iran, Jordan, and others have been forced to close their airspace to ensure safety in the region. This massive disruption has caused a ripple effect throughout global aviation, as flights that would normally pass through these air corridors are now being rerouted, leading to significant travel delays, cancellations, and diversions. The sudden restrictions have emptied the skies over the Middle East, affecting key routes between Europe, the U.S., and Asia. With major air hubs like Doha, Dubai, and Tel Aviv temporarily unavailable for transit, airlines have scrambled to find alternative flight paths, often extending travel times and increasing fuel costs. As a result, passengers are facing a wave of inconvenience as their journeys are disrupted, and the once-busy airspace over the region now stands empty, waiting for calm to return.

Qatar Temporarily Halts Operations Amid Airspace Shutdown

Image generated with Ai

Qatar’s aviation sector has been severely impacted following the interception of an Iranian missile over Qatari airspace, which led to the closure of the country’s airspace. Qatar Airways confirmed the suspension of all flights to and from Doha, with the entire Doha network grounded temporarily. Operations will resume once the airspace reopens, though ongoing disruptions are expected even after the closure ends. This has rendered Doha temporarily unavailable as a major transfer hub, forcing passengers onto alternative routes via other Gulf, Turkish, or European hubs. Although no emergency landings in Doha have been reported, the closure has resulted in the halting of Qatar Airways’ hub-and-spoke operation, and overflights that would normally pass through Doha are being rerouted. The airline’s hub network shutdown has led to significant delays and cancellations, disrupting global travel connections.

UAE Temporarily Restricts Airspace Amid Regional Tensions

Image generated with Ai

As regional tensions continue to escalate, the UAE has taken precautionary measures by partially and temporarily restricting its airspace. This action is aimed at safeguarding aviation operations in the region. Live flight tracking maps show notable holding patterns and rerouted flights around the UAE, especially during peak times of heightened tension. Airlines are adjusting their routes to avoid the restricted zones, leading to delays and longer flight durations. Although the airspace remains partially open, these temporary restrictions are causing significant disruption, including extended travel times and occasional flight cancellations. The ongoing volatility in the region has prompted the UAE to impose these measures, reflecting the need for increased security and operational adjustments within the country’s aviation network.

Bahraini Airspace Temporarily Closed Amid Regional Strikes

Image generated with Ai

At the height of the regional strikes, Bahraini airspace was temporarily closed as a precautionary measure to ensure the safety of aviation operations. This decision was made in response to escalating tensions in the region, with Bahrain taking immediate action to protect its airspace. Live flight tracking maps show significant rerouting of flights around Bahrain, leading to delays and longer travel times. Airlines operating in the region had to adjust their flight paths, diverting planes to alternative routes to avoid Bahraini airspace during the closure. Although the airspace is expected to reopen once tensions subside, the temporary shutdown has caused disruptions, including the potential for flight cancellations and significant delays. This move underscores the heightened security measures being implemented in response to regional instability, with airlines and travelers forced to navigate longer, more congested routes.

Iran: A Total No-Fly Zone as Airspace Shuts Down

Image generated with Ai

On February 28, 2026, following coordinated U.S.–Israel strikes on targets around Tehran, the Iranian government issued a Notam (Notice to Airmen) effectively shutting down the entire Iranian airspace to civilian traffic. This closure remains in place “until further notice,” turning Iran into a de facto no-fly zone for commercial overflights. The impact of this action is substantial, especially for Europe–South Asia trunk routes, which usually pass through Iranian airspace. Key routes such as those from the UK and Europe to Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru have been heavily rerouted. Many European, Gulf, and Russian airlines have suspended services to Iran entirely, and live air traffic trackers have reported a near-total absence of civilian flights over the country. The alternative routes, which go either far north via Central Asia or far south through the Arabian Sea and Saudi Arabia, increase flight durations and fuel costs. Though there have been no emergency landings inside Iran, the disruption has led to numerous cancellations and rerouted flights, increasing congestion and strain on nearby air corridors.

Jordan: Airspace Restrictions Cause Major Rerouting

Image generated with Ai

Following escalating regional tensions, Jordan’s airspace has faced severe restrictions due to ongoing missile and drone activities in the region. As part of the broader no-fly zone stretching from Iran through Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, and into Israel, flights traveling through Jordan are now being rerouted. This impacts airlines operating between Europe, the Gulf, and Turkey, as well as those with connections to the Middle East. Airlines are choosing safer routes, diverting flights south via Egypt or opting for more northern paths, such as over the Black Sea and Caucasus, to avoid the conflict zone. This has led to significant delays and increased operational costs for airlines. Although no emergency landings in Jordan have been reported, the continued uncertainty in the region is causing major disruptions, with passengers facing lengthy delays and cancellations. Given the volatility of the situation, Jordan’s airspace has become increasingly impractical for many international airlines, putting a strain on regional connectivity and forcing airlines to rethink their flight routes for the foreseeable future.

Flight Disruptions and Rerouting Amid Regional Airspace Closures

Image generated with Ai

The ongoing regional airspace closures due to the escalating conflict in the Middle East have caused significant flight disruptions, forcing numerous airlines to reroute their flights. Notable diversions include FZ984 (Flydubai) from Kazan to Dubai, which was diverted to Baku due to closed airspace, and AI126 (Air India) flying from Chicago to Delhi, which had to reroute over Syria due to airspace restrictions. Other flights, such as G9950 (Air Arabia) from Sharjah to Moscow, were rerouted over Pakistan, while EK225 (Emirates) from Dubai to San Francisco had to take a longer route over Afghanistan and Pakistan to avoid restricted zones. Additionally, Wizz Air flights from Sofia to Tel Aviv (WZZ2304J) and from Larnaca to Tel Aviv (WZZ219R) experienced diversions to alternate airports like Larnaca due to airspace closures. UPS flight (UPS264) from Cologne to Tel Aviv was also diverted to Rome. These diversions highlight the significant impact of airspace restrictions, leading to delays, longer flight durations, and operational challenges as airlines adjust to increasingly congested air routes.

Airspace Closures Lead to Significant Flight Disruptions and Rerouting

Image generated with Ai

The ongoing closure of airspace across the Middle East has led to significant disruptions for numerous flights and airlines, causing delays, diversions, and rerouted paths. For example, FZ984 from Kazan to Dubai was diverted to Baku, while AI126 from Chicago to Delhi had to reroute over Syria. Similarly, G9950 from Sharjah to Moscow was rerouted over Pakistan, and EK225 from Dubai to San Francisco is now flying over Afghanistan and Pakistan. Dubai International Airport has been severely impacted, with no flights taking off for over 30 minutes and no flights landing for more than 10 minutes. In addition, flights departing from Tel Aviv and Amman have also been diverted due to the closure of Israeli airspace, which will remain shut until 1000 UTC. These airspace closures have created widespread travel disruptions, forcing airlines to seek alternative flight paths and significantly extending travel times for passengers.

Flight Disruptions and Emergency Landings Amid Regional Airspace Closures

Following the closure of airspaces due to the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran, several flights experienced diversions and unscheduled landings. Notably, Air India AI139, en route from Delhi to Tel Aviv, was ordered to turn back to Mumbai after Israeli airspace was suddenly closed due to military actions. The flight was already in Saudi airspace when the airspace shutdown occurred, and the diversion was made “in the interest of safety of passengers and crew.” Similarly, United Airlines UA84, flying from Newark to Tel Aviv, was diverted to Athens after Israel closed its airspace. The wide-body Boeing 787-9 landed safely in Athens, but passengers were stranded while the airline rearranged onward travel. In another instance, a British Airways flight from London Heathrow to Doha turned back mid-journey due to regional airspace closures and escalating conflict. The airline opted to return to London Heathrow once it became clear that Middle East routings were no longer viable. Emirates flight EK133, traveling from Dubai to Moscow, was also diverted after Iran and several Gulf states closed their airspace, forcing a reroute away from its planned path. Lastly, an unnamed flydubai flight to Tel Aviv returned to Dubai after Israel’s airspace closure, with the aircraft less than an hour from arrival and already in Jordanian airspace.

The recent U.S.-Israel strikes on Iran have led to the closure of airspace across Qatar, UAE, Bahrain, Iran, Jordan, and other countries. This has caused widespread travel delays, cancellations, and reroutings on Europe-US to Asia routes.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the closure of airspace across Qatar, UAE, Bahrain, Iran, Jordan, and other Middle Eastern countries due to the U.S.-Israel strikes on Iran has created major disruptions in global travel. The resulting empty skies have forced airlines to reroute flights, causing significant delays and cancellations, particularly for routes between Europe, the U.S., and Asia. As the region remains in turmoil, the airspace shutdown continues to affect air traffic and passenger movements. Airlines and passengers will have to adapt to ongoing reroutings and travel disruptions until the situation stabilizes and airspace reopens.