Hundreds Of Passengers Abandoned In The Middle East As Saudi Arabia, Egypt, UAE, And Türkiye Delay 1,029 And Cancel 21 Flights, Disrupting Emirates, Turkish Airlines, EgyptAir, And Others In Istanbul, Dubai, Jeddah, And More

Written By: Ryan Rashid

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June 28, 2026 6:00 AM

Image generated with Ai

Flight cancellations persist across the Middle East today, as widespread disruptions across Saudi Arabia, Egypt, UAE, and Türkiye led to 1,029 flight delays and 21 cancellations. The highest number of disruptions were reported at Istanbul Airport, Antalya, Cairo, Dubai, Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen, King Khalid, King Abdulaziz, Sharjah, and Al Maktoum. Among airlines, Turkish Airlines, Pegasus Airlines, EgyptAir, Emirates, Saudia, SunExpress, Flynas, Air Arabia, FlyDubai, and Jet2 recorded the largest numbers of delayed flights. Other well-known carriers including Lufthansa, Qatar Airways, IndiGo, SpiceJet, and easyJet also experienced delays or cancellations.

• Istanbul Airport recorded the highest number of delays with 221, followed by Antalya with 187 and Cairo with 147.
• Antalya reported the highest number of cancellations with 8 flights called off.
• Turkish Airlines led all airlines with 187 delayed flights.
• Pegasus Airlines, EgyptAir, Emirates, and Saudia were among the carriers reporting the largest numbers of delays.
• FlyDubai, easyJet, US-Bangla Airlines, and Transavia France accounted for most cancellations.

Most Affected Middle Eastern Airports

Istanbul Airport

Istanbul Airport recorded the highest disruption levels, reporting 221 delays and 2 cancellations. Turkish Airlines accounted for the majority of delayed services, while smaller numbers of delays were also recorded by Aegean Airlines, Lufthansa, and Air Serbia.

Dubai

Dubai recorded 134 delays and 6 cancellations. Emirates handled the largest number of delayed flights, while FlyDubai recorded both significant delays and the highest number of cancellations at the airport.

Antalya

Antalya reported 187 delays and 8 cancellations, making it the airport with the highest cancellation total. SunExpress, Jet2, Pegasus Airlines, Turkish Airlines, Azur Air, and easyJet were among the airlines affected.

Cairo

Cairo registered 147 delayed flights. EgyptAir accounted for most delays, followed by Nile Air, Air Cairo, Nesma Airlines Egypt, and ITA Airways.

Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen

Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen reported 115 delays. Pegasus Airlines was the most affected carrier, followed by Turkish Airlines and AJet.

King Khalid

King Khalid recorded 96 delays. Flynas and Saudia accounted for most delayed operations, while flyadeal, EgyptAir, Qatar Airways, Nesma Airlines Egypt, and Royal Jordanian also reported disruptions.

King Abdulaziz

King Abdulaziz experienced 78 delays and 1 cancellation. Saudia reported the largest number of delays, while Flynas recorded the airport’s only cancellation.

Sharjah

Sharjah reported 38 delays and 3 cancellations. Air Arabia accounted for most delayed flights, while US-Bangla Airlines was responsible for two of the airport’s cancellations.

Al Maktoum

Al Maktoum recorded 13 delays and 1 cancellation, both involving Emirates operations.

Airlines Disrupted by Middle East Flight Cancellations and Delays

Turkish Airlines

Turkish Airlines recorded the highest number of delays across all airports with 187 delayed flights, primarily at Istanbul Airport, alongside additional delays at Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen and Antalya.

Pegasus Airlines

Pegasus Airlines reported 97 delayed flights, with the majority occurring at Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen and additional disruptions at Antalya.

EgyptAir

EgyptAir experienced 86 delayed flights, largely at Cairo, with further delays recorded at King Khalid.

Emirates

Emirates registered 66 delays and 1 cancellation, with operations affected at Dubai and Al Maktoum.

Saudia

Saudia recorded 56 delayed flights, split between King Abdulaziz and King Khalid.

SunExpress

SunExpress experienced 50 delayed flights, all at Antalya.

Flynas

Flynas reported 38 delays and 1 cancellation, with disruptions spread across King Abdulaziz and King Khalid.

Air Arabia

Air Arabia recorded 34 delays and 1 cancellation, mainly at Sharjah, with additional delays at King Abdulaziz.

FlyDubai

FlyDubai experienced 31 delays and 4 cancellations, making it one of the most affected airlines for cancelled flights.

Jet2

Jet2 reported 25 delayed flights, all at Antalya.

What Should Passengers Facing Flight Cancellations Do?

• Check your airline’s latest flight status before leaving for the airport.
• Monitor airline notifications for schedule changes and rebooking options.
• Contact your airline promptly if your flight has been cancelled.
• Keep travel documents and booking confirmations readily available.
• Allow additional travel time, especially if connecting through busy airports.
• Review your airline’s baggage and rebooking policies before making alternative arrangements.
• Retain receipts for eligible expenses if your journey is significantly disrupted.
• Stay informed through official airline and airport communication channels.

Learn More

What Caused Flight Disruptions Across The Middle East?

Flight operations are affected by a combination of operational challenges, including aircraft rotation requirements, airport congestion, crew scheduling, air traffic flow management, technical inspections, and routine operational adjustments. Because flights operate on interconnected schedules, disruptions affecting one service can influence later departures and arrivals throughout the day, particularly at major international hubs handling large volumes of passenger traffic.

Overview of Middle East Flight Cancellations

June 28, today’s disruptions across the Middle East affected major aviation hubs across Egypt, Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Türkiye, with Istanbul Airport, Antalya, Cairo, and Dubai emerging among the busiest airports experiencing delays, according to the latest data. Turkish Airlines recorded the largest number of delayed flights, followed by Pegasus Airlines, EgyptAir, Emirates, Saudia, and SunExpress. Other prominent airlines, including FlyDubai, Air Arabia, Flynas, Lufthansa, Qatar Airways, IndiGo, SpiceJet, and easyJet, also reported operational disruptions.
Author’s Note: Data was compiled manually from FlightAware and remains subject to live updates. Airlines may adjust schedules as needed, and travelers are advised to monitor real-time information and review rebooking options.
Among the affected cities, Istanbul, Antalya, Cairo, Dubai, Jeddah, Riyadh, and Sharjah all experienced notable flight disruptions, with Istanbul and Antalya accounting for particularly high delay volumes. Across Egypt, Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Türkiye, airlines continued managing delayed departures and arrivals while adjusting schedules to maintain network operations. Travelers flying through Istanbul, Dubai, Cairo, and Antalya were among those most likely to encounter delays, highlighting the broad operational impact across the region today.


Source: Different airports and FlightAware