Airlines suspend more flights to Middle East as conflict escalates

LONDON,— Global air travel continues to face major disruption after the war in Iran forced the shutdown of key Middle Eastern aviation hubs, including Dubai, Doha and Abu Dhabi.

The closures have left tens of thousands of travelers stranded and forced airlines worldwide to cancel or reduce services.

Airlines across Europe, Asia and North America have adjusted schedules, suspended routes and extended cancellations as the situation affects major flight corridors.

Greece’s Aegean Airlines said it had cancelled flights to Tel Aviv, Beirut and Amman until April 22. Services to Erbil, Iraqi Kurdistan, and Baghdad remain suspended until May 24. Flights to Dubai are cancelled until April 19 and to Riyadh until April 18.

Latvia’s airBaltic reported that all flights to Tel Aviv are cancelled until April 5, while services to Dubai are suspended until October 24.

Air Canada said it had halted all flights to Tel Aviv until May 2 and cancelled flights to Dubai until March 28.

Spain’s Air Europa confirmed cancellations of all flights to Tel Aviv until April 10.

Air France said flights to Tel Aviv and Beirut are cancelled until March 21. The airline also suspended routes to Dubai and Riyadh until March 20. KLM, part of the same group, said it had suspended flights to Riyadh, Dammam and Dubai until March 28, and to Tel Aviv until April 11.

Hong Kong based Cathay Pacific cancelled all passenger flights to and from Dubai and Riyadh, along with cargo freighter services to those cities, until April 30.

Delta Air Lines said it had cancelled flights between New York and Tel Aviv until March 31, and return flights until April 1. The airline also delayed the restart of its Atlanta to Tel Aviv service. Flights to Tel Aviv are now paused until August 4, with return flights suspended until August 5.

El Al Israel Airlines said regular flight operations were cancelled until March 21.

Emirates said it is operating a reduced schedule after a partial reopening of regional airspace. Etihad Airways also reported a limited commercial schedule between Abu Dhabi and several key destinations.

Finnair cancelled flights to Dubai until March 29 and to Doha until April 2. The airline said it continues to avoid airspace over Iraq, Iran, Syria and Israel.

Saudi budget carrier Flynas extended its suspension of flights to several destinations including Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Doha, Bahrain, Kuwait, Iraq and Syria until March 31.

International Airlines Group, which owns British Airways, extended cancellations of flights to Amman, Bahrain, Dubai and Tel Aviv until May 31. Flights to Doha are cancelled until April 30. The group also added flights to Bangkok and Singapore, while services to Abu Dhabi remain suspended until later in the year.

India’s IndiGo said it had suspended operations to Doha, Kuwait, Bahrain, Dammam, Fujairah, Ras Al Khaimah and Sharjah until March 28.

Japan Airlines said it had halted Tokyo to Doha flights until March 31 and return flights until April 1.

Poland’s LOT said flights to Dubai are cancelled until March 28 and to Tel Aviv until April 18. Flights to Riyadh are suspended until March 24, while services to Beirut are cancelled from March 31 through April 30.

Germany’s Lufthansa Group, which includes Lufthansa, Austrian Airlines, Swiss, Brussels Airlines and ITA Airways, said it had suspended flights to Tel Aviv until April 9. Flights to Beirut, Dubai, Amman, Erbil, Dammam and Abu Dhabi are cancelled until March 28. Services to Tehran are suspended until April 30 and to Riyadh until April 5 for operational reasons.

Malaysia Airlines said it had suspended all flights to Doha until March 28.

Norwegian Air said it plans to begin flights to Tel Aviv and Beirut from June 15, later than previously scheduled dates in early April.

Turkey’s Pegasus Airlines cancelled flights to Iran, Iraq, Amman, Beirut, Kuwait, Bahrain, Doha, Dammam, Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah until April 12. Flights to Riyadh are cancelled until March 23.

Qatar Airways said it would operate a revised and limited schedule between March 18 and March 28.

Turkey’s transport ministry said Turkish Airlines had cancelled flights to Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Doha, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Kuwait, Bahrain and Dammam until March 19. Flights to Iran are cancelled until March 20.

Wizz Air said it had suspended flights to Israel until March 29. Services to Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Amman and Jeddah from mainland Europe are cancelled until mid September.

(With files from Reuters)