Middle‑East Airlines Halt All Flights After U.S. and Israeli Strikes on Iran
Middle‑East airlines suspended all flights on Saturday, including those departing from and arriving in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, after the United States and the Israeli entity carried out strikes against Iran, triggering a military escalation in the region.
- Airspace status: According to flight maps, the skies over Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Israel and Bahrain are almost empty. Israel announced it had struck Iran, while U.S. forces launched attacks on several targets.
- Iran’s response: Iran fired a volley of missiles. Witnesses told Reuters they heard explosions in the Gulf, notably in Doha—home to the largest U.S. military base in the area—as well as in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, the region’s main aviation and commercial hubs.
A senior aviation official described the situation as “a massive logistical nightmare,” with crews, aircraft and passengers stranded worldwide.
Airport and Airline Actions
- Dubai Airports Company: All flights at Dubai International Airport (which handled nearly 100 million passengers last year) and at Al Maktoum Airport are suspended until further notice. Passengers are advised not to travel.
- Emirates: The carrier announced that all operations to and from Dubai are temporarily halted.
- FlyDubai: Also stopped its flights.
- Etihad Airways: Stated that all departures from Abu Dhabi are suspended until 10:00 GMT on Sunday, and any inbound flights scheduled before that time will be cancelled.
The abrupt shutdown underscores the rapid impact of geopolitical tensions on global air travel and logistics.
