Thousands Of Travellers Trapped In Middle East As Emirates, Air India, Saudia, British, Egypt Air, Singapore, Turkish, And Others Cancel Over 1000 Flights On Routes To New York, London, Paris, Tokyo, Mumbai, Frankfurt, Toronto And Singapore Due To Iran‑Israel Crisis

Published on March 3, 2026

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Thousands of travellers are trapped across the Middle East after major airlines, including Emirates, Air India, Saudia, British Airways, Egypt Air, Singapore Airlines, Turkish Airlines, and others, cancelled over 1,000 flights due to the escalating Iran-Israel crisis. The closure of airspace across the Gulf region, particularly affecting Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Beirut, has grounded flights to key global cities such as New York, London, Paris, Tokyo, Mumbai, Frankfurt, Toronto, and Singapore. These disruptions stem from heightened security concerns and military actions that forced governments to restrict civilian air traffic, leaving thousands stranded at major Middle Eastern airports with limited options for rebooking or alternative travel arrangements. The crisis has caused one of the largest aviation disruptions in recent history, surpassing the impacts of the COVID‑19 pandemic and leaving passengers scrambling for solutions.

Image generated with Ai

Thousands of passengers remain stranded in the Middle East after airlines including Emirates, Air India, Saudia, British Airways, Egypt Air, Singapore Airlines, Turkish Airlines, and others cancelled over 1000 flights. The cancellations have disrupted travel from major hubs in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Beirut, leaving passengers with little to no options for travel to key global cities like New York, London, Paris, Tokyo, Mumbai, Frankfurt, Toronto, and Singapore.

The chaos erupted in the wake of the escalating Iran-Israel crisis, which triggered airspace closures across the Middle East. Airports in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Lebanon have either suspended flights or faced significant operational challenges due to the closure of airspace. With no clear timeline for resolution, airlines have been scrambling to rebook affected passengers and provide alternative routes, but the disruption has affected thousands of travellers.

Airline Cancellations Surge Amid Airspace Closures

The ongoing crisis has led to the closure of several Middle Eastern air corridors, which are crucial for connecting global cities across continents. As a result, airlines have had to suspend operations and cancel flights. Emirates, based in Dubai, grounded over 350 flights to and from major cities in the US, Europe, and Asia. The UAE’s national carrier has been one of the hardest-hit airlines due to the closures of the airspace over its home base.

Similarly, Air India has cancelled hundreds of flights, particularly to cities in Europe, North America, and Asia. The airline continues to monitor the situation and has advised affected passengers to check flight statuses regularly. IndiGo, India’s low-cost carrier, also announced the cancellation of over 100 flights, primarily to destinations in the Middle East and South Asia.

Other prominent airlines such as Saudia, British Airways, Egypt Air, Singapore Airlines, Turkish Airlines, and Aegean Airlines are among the carriers affected by the widespread flight suspensions. British Airways and Egypt Air both announced that they had suspended their services to Middle Eastern hubs, while Turkish Airlines and Singapore Airlines faced multiple cancellations affecting routes to and from the region.

Airports in the affected cities, including Dubai International (DXB), Abu Dhabi International (AUH), and Bahrain International, are facing significant disruptions as airlines attempt to reschedule flights or arrange for rebookings. Kuwait International and Beirut International airports are also operating with limited schedules due to airspace restrictions and reduced capacity.

Impacts on Key Routes to Major Cities

The cancellations have had a significant impact on flights to several key destinations around the world. New York, London, Paris, Tokyo, Mumbai, Frankfurt, Toronto, and Singapore are among the cities most affected by these disruptions.

Flights between the Middle East and North America are a major part of the region’s aviation network, and disruptions to these routes have left thousands of travellers stranded. New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles have seen flight suspensions due to the closure of airspace over the Middle East, affecting hundreds of passengers who were en route from the Gulf region.

In Europe, the cities of London, Paris, Frankfurt, and Milan were all major departure points from the Middle East, and they have been impacted by widespread cancellations. With travel to these cities suspended, passengers have been scrambling to find alternative routes, but with limited success as airlines are unable to operate normal schedules.

Asia-bound travellers have also been hit hard, with flights to Tokyo, Mumbai, and Singapore seeing the highest number of cancellations. Passengers who had planned to travel to Tokyo or Singapore from the Middle East have been forced to seek alternate travel options, but finding available seats has become nearly impossible due to the sudden surge in demand for flights out of the region.

Passengers Left Stranded at Airports

The widespread cancellations have led to a chaotic scene at airports across the Middle East. Dubai International (DXB), one of the world’s busiest airports, has been particularly affected, with long queues of frustrated passengers who have been waiting for flight updates.

At Abu Dhabi International (AUH), travellers have faced multiple delays and confusion as many passengers were left without information about their rescheduled flights. Airlines have scrambled to offer accommodation and food vouchers to those stranded, but these measures have not been enough to alleviate the frustration of passengers caught up in the crisis.

Bahrain International and Kuwait International have also been dealing with long delays as ground crews attempt to manage the increased passenger volume caused by flight suspensions. Passengers have been urged to stay in touch with their airlines and check for available rebookings, but many have been left with little option but to wait until operations can be resumed.

Airline Responses and Challenges

Airlines are working to rebook stranded passengers, but the process is slow and complicated. Many passengers who were on international flights to and from cities like New York, London, Paris, and Tokyo are now being told to rebook on alternative routes, but these flights are filling up quickly.

Emirates has promised to update customers on their flight status and has been prioritising the rebooking of passengers on later flights. The airline has also been offering affected travellers the option to rebook their flights for a later date or receive a full refund. However, the airline has warned that this will not be an immediate process due to the large volume of cancellations.

Air India has also assured passengers that they will be rebooked on the next available flights. However, with the growing number of cancellations, it is becoming increasingly difficult to find seats on alternative flights.

Saudia, British Airways, and Singapore Airlines are also facing similar challenges, with delays in rebooking passengers and difficulties in finding available flights. These carriers have issued travel advisories to passengers, asking them to stay updated through their mobile apps and official websites.

Rerouting and Increased Travel Costs

For passengers who were initially booked on these cancelled flights, rerouting has become a priority. Airlines are working to find alternative routes around the affected regions, but many travellers are facing longer travel times and higher costs as airlines adjust their flight paths to avoid the Middle East.

Reports indicate that airfares from the Middle East to Europe, North America, and Asia have risen sharply due to the disruption. The surge in demand for flights out of the Middle East, coupled with limited availability, has led to a rise in ticket prices.

The Road Ahead for Global Air Travel

While many of the affected airlines are beginning to resume limited operations, experts warn that the disruption may continue for several more days as the crisis persists. Airlines are closely monitoring the situation and adjusting their schedules as new developments unfold.

The ongoing Iran-Israel crisis is expected to have a long-term impact on global air travel, particularly for routes that pass through Middle Eastern airspace. As tensions rise and airspace remains restricted, passengers can expect further flight disruptions and delays in the coming days.

Thousands of travellers are trapped in the Middle East as Emirates, Air India, Saudia, British Airways, Egypt Air, Singapore Airlines, Turkish Airlines, and others cancel over 1,000 flights due to Iran-Israel crisis, resulting in airspace closures and disruptions to major routes to New York, London, Paris, Tokyo, Mumbai, Frankfurt, Toronto, and Singapore.

The Iran-Israel crisis has caused widespread chaos in the Middle East, resulting in over 1000 flight cancellations and leaving thousands of passengers stranded at major airports like Dubai International, Abu Dhabi, and Bahrain. Airlines such as Emirates, Air India, Saudia, British Airways, Egypt Air, Singapore Airlines, Turkish Airlines, and others have faced significant operational challenges in rerouting flights and accommodating stranded passengers.

Travellers are urged to stay informed about flight status, explore rebooking options, and prepare for possible further disruptions as the situation in the Middle East continues to evolve.