Jordan Stands With Saudi Arabia, UAE, Oman and Others in Facing a Massive Shortage of Repatriation Flights to Europe After the Regional Conflict Reignites as Lufthansa, SWISS, Brussels, Eurowings and More Airlines Cancel Several Flights Throughout the Middle East for Three More Months in 2026

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Jordan is standing with Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Oman and other Middle East nations as the region faces a massive shortage of repatriation flights to Europe after the Middle East conflict reignited, forcing Lufthansa, SWISS, Brussels Airlines, Eurowings and more airlines to cancel several flights throughout the Middle East for three more months in 2026. As security risks continue to disrupt airspace and operations, carriers are extending suspensions across key destinations, leaving stranded travellers with limited European connections and pushing airlines to prioritise safety, rerouting and network adjustments over regular schedules.

Lufthansa (Mainline): Extending a Broad Middle East Retreat Through the End of the Summer Schedule

Lufthansa has implemented one of the Lufthansa Group’s widest operational pullbacks as the latest Middle East conflict continues to reshape international aviation. The airline has suspended flights to Abu Dhabi, Amman, Beirut, Dammam, Riyadh, Erbil, Muscat, and Tehran until October 24, 2026, matching the end of the IATA summer schedule. Meanwhile, services to Dubai remain suspended until September 13, 2026. Rather than operating through conflict-sensitive airspace, Lufthansa is rerouting its Asia-Pacific services via the northern Caucasus corridor, increasing flight distances but prioritising passenger and crew safety. The decision underscores a long-term operational shift where network resilience and risk management now take precedence over the fastest routing options.

• Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates: Flights remain suspended until October 24 as Lufthansa scales back Gulf operations amid ongoing security concerns.
• Amman, Jordan: Services remain paused while the airline avoids conflict-sensitive Middle East airspace and prioritises operational safety.
• Beirut, Lebanon: Flights remain suspended following continued regional instability and evolving security assessments.
• Dammam, Saudi Arabia: Eastern Saudi Arabia services remain offline under Lufthansa’s extended Middle East suspension strategy.
• Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: Capital city operations remain suspended as the airline maintains a cautious regional approach.
• Erbil, Iraq: Northern Iraq services remain paused while Lufthansa closely monitors regional airspace conditions.
• Muscat, Oman: Oman operations stay suspended until October 24 under the airline’s revised network plan.
• Tehran, Iran: Flights remain halted as geopolitical tensions continue to affect commercial aviation.
• Dubai, United Arab Emirates: Dubai services remain suspended until September 13 despite being outside the wider October suspension.

Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS): Network Flexibility Becomes the Core Strategy

SWISS has mirrored the Lufthansa Group’s conservative approach by maintaining suspensions on Middle Eastern operations through October 24, 2026, while extending its Dubai suspension until September 13. Rather than allowing aircraft to remain idle, the airline has redirected capacity by extending its daily Delhi–Zurich service through the summer season. This approach demonstrates how SWISS is balancing operational safety with commercial efficiency, reallocating aircraft to stronger long-haul markets while avoiding volatile regional airspace. The airline’s evolving strategy reflects a broader industry trend of adapting networks instead of waiting for normal operations to resume.

• Beirut, Lebanon: Flights remain suspended through October 24 amid continuing regional instability.
• Tehran, Iran: Iran services remain paused as SWISS maintains strict operational risk measures.
• Dubai, United Arab Emirates: Dubai operations remain suspended until September 13 under updated security guidance.
• Delhi, India – Zurich, Switzerland: Daily service has been extended to maximise long-haul fleet utilisation outside conflict zones.

Austrian Airlines: Vienna’s Middle East Gateway Put on Hold

Austrian Airlines has suspended all services connecting Vienna with Abu Dhabi, Amman, Beirut, Dammam, Riyadh, Erbil, Muscat, and Tehran until October 24, 2026. Instead of maintaining direct connectivity, the airline is rerouting passengers through alternative European hubs wherever possible. The move reflects Austrian’s commitment to minimising operational exposure while preserving broader international connectivity. As geopolitical uncertainty persists, Vienna’s traditional role as a bridge between Europe and the Middle East has temporarily diminished, with the carrier focusing on network stability over expansion.

• Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates: Vienna-Abu Dhabi services remain suspended through October 24 for operational safety.
• Amman, Jordan: Direct flights to Jordan remain unavailable during the extended suspension period.
• Beirut, Lebanon: Lebanon operations remain halted while Austrian reviews regional security developments.
• Dammam, Saudi Arabia: Services to eastern Saudi Arabia remain suspended until late October.
• Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: Flights to the Saudi capital remain paused under the revised operating plan.
• Erbil, Iraq: Northern Iraq services remain suspended pending improved operating conditions.
• Muscat, Oman: Oman routes remain unavailable throughout the summer schedule.
• Tehran, Iran: Iran services remain suspended amid continuing geopolitical uncertainty.

Brussels Airlines: Refocusing on Europe and Africa Amid Regional Instability

Brussels Airlines has frozen all scheduled Middle East operations until October 24, 2026, choosing instead to strengthen its European and African networks. The carrier has shifted aircraft toward markets offering stronger demand and greater operational certainty while avoiding lengthy diversions and unpredictable airspace restrictions. Rising fuel costs and continued geopolitical volatility have reinforced this strategic decision, allowing Brussels Airlines to maintain network reliability while reducing exposure to one of aviation’s most challenging operating environments.

• Middle East Destinations: Services across the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Oman and Iran remain suspended until October 24, 2026.
• European Network: Aircraft are being redeployed across Europe to strengthen connectivity and operational reliability.
• African Network: Capacity is being shifted to African routes where demand and operations remain more predictable.

Eurowings: A Different Risk Strategy With Selective Middle East Returns

Eurowings has taken a noticeably different approach from other Lufthansa Group airlines by selectively resuming certain Middle Eastern routes instead of maintaining a blanket suspension. Flights to Beirut and Erbil resumed on July 1, 2026, while Tel Aviv is scheduled to return on July 10. Most remaining regional destinations continue to stay offline as the airline adopts a phased, market-by-market recovery strategy based on security assessments and passenger demand. The approach illustrates how low-cost carriers can maintain greater operational flexibility while still responding cautiously to regional developments.

• Beirut, Lebanon: Flights resumed on July 1 following updated security and operational assessments.
• Erbil, Iraq: Northern Iraq services restarted on July 1 under Eurowings’ phased recovery plan.
• Tel Aviv, Israel: Flights are scheduled to resume on July 10 following continued security monitoring.
• Other Middle East Destinations: Routes across the wider Middle East remain suspended pending further operational and security reviews.

Middle East Conflict Reignites: Latest Situation Snapshot (Updated July 9, 2026)

The Middle East conflict has reignited, ending weeks of relative calm after the fragile US-Iran interim ceasefire unraveled following renewed attacks in and around the Strait of Hormuz. The latest escalation began after commercial vessels were targeted in the strategic waterway, prompting fresh US military strikes on Iranian targets. Iran subsequently retaliated with missile and drone attacks against US military facilities in Bahrain and Kuwait, raising fears of a wider regional conflict. The renewed hostilities have once again disrupted commercial shipping, increased oil market volatility, and forced international airlines to extend flight suspensions and avoid key Middle Eastern airspace. With security risks escalating across the Gulf, airlines, shipping companies, and energy markets remain on high alert as diplomatic efforts struggle to prevent the conflict from expanding further.

Jordan, alongside Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Oman and others, faces a shortage of repatriation flights to Europe as the regional conflict reignites, forcing Lufthansa, SWISS, Brussels Airlines, Eurowings and more airlines to cancel flights across the region for three more months in 2026.

In conclusion, Jordan stands with Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Oman and others as the Middle East conflict reignites and continues to create a massive shortage of repatriation flights to Europe. The extended disruption has pushed Lufthansa, SWISS, Brussels Airlines, Eurowings and more airlines to cancel several flights throughout the Middle East for three more months in 2026, as carriers prioritise passenger safety, avoid high-risk airspace and restructure their networks until regional stability returns.