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Airlines suspended flights across the Middle East on Saturday, including to and from the world’s busiest travel hub, Dubai, after the United States and Israel launched strikes on Iran, plunging the region into a renewed military confrontation.
Flight maps showed airspace over Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Israel and Bahrain virtually empty as Israel said it struck Iran and the US military initiated a series of strikes against targets in the country. Iran retaliated with a salvo of missiles.
WATCH | Tensions escalate in the Middle East after the United States and Israel launched strikes on Iran, with explosions reported in Tehran. Iran has retaliated with missiles towards Israel. Sophie Mokoena unpacks the latest developments. pic.twitter.com/3IIeG7eehs
— SABC News (@SABCNews) February 28, 2026
Witnesses told Reuters about explosions across the Gulf, including in Qatar’s Doha, which hosts the biggest US military base in the Middle East, as well as Abu Dhabi and Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, key regional transport hubs.
Dubai Airports said all flights at Dubai International, which handled nearly 100 million passengers last year, as well as the smaller Al Maktoum International airport, were suspended until further notice, urging passengers not to travel.
“Due to multiple regional airspace closures, Emirates has temporarily suspended operations to and from Dubai,” the Dubai-based carrier said, while its sister airline flydubai, said it had temporarily suspended operations. Etihad Airways said all flights scheduled to depart Abu Dhabi were suspended until 1000 GMT on Sunday, and flights expected to arrive at the Gulf hub before that time would be cancelled. “Flights already enroute to Abu Dhabi are returning to their origin airports where required,” it added.
An attack by the United States and Israel has wreaked havoc in Iran, spreading fear amongst Iranians who are now heading out of cities out of panic and searching for safety.
— SABC News (@SABCNews) February 28, 2026
Strikes deepen regional turmoil
The escalation dimmed hopes for a diplomatic solution to Tehran’s nuclear dispute with the West and reignited conflict after weeks of U.S. military buildup in the region. It marks the latest upheaval for air travel in the usually busy region amid escalating tensions. Airports in the Middle East are some of the busiest in the world, covering an area stretching from Iran and Iraq to the Mediterranean and serving as a connecting hub for flights between Europe and Asia.
“Passengers and airlines can expect airspace to be shut for quite some time in the region,” said Eric Schouten, head of aviation security advisory Dyami.
“The impact on regional aviation is immediate and highly fluid, he says.”
Flights rerouted, passengers stranded
Airlines have cancelled almost 40% of flights to Israel and 6.7% of flights to the broader region on Saturday, according to preliminary Cirium data.
That number seems likely to rise.
WATCH | Thembisa Fakude, Senior Research Fellow at Africa Asia Dialogue, says the recent attacks between the United States, Israel and Iran are likely to escalate tensions in the Middle East and could disrupt the global economy. pic.twitter.com/JP7hVHeFuS
— SABC News (@SABCNews) February 28, 2026
At Doha’s Hamad International Airport, gates appeared almost empty, while stranded passengers queued to make hotel arrangements. There was uncertainty about when flight schedules would resume, a Reuters witness reported.
The region has taken on a more important role since the start of the war between Russia and Ukraine, which has forced airlines to avoid airspace over both countries.
Conflict zones are an increasing operational burden on airlines as aerial attacks raise worries about accidental or deliberate shoot-downs of commercial air traffic.Longer flight times also require more fuel, adding to their costs.
Israel, Iran, Iraq, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait and Jordan closed their airspace following the attacks, and a map of the region on Flightradar24 showed planes avoiding these areas.
Related video | Middle East Tensions | Global flights disrupted
www.sabcnews.com, https://www.sabcnews.com/sabcnews/middle-east-airspace-closures-halt-flights-amid-iran-blasts/
