Airlines and Cruise Lines Slam Brakes on Middle East Trips Amid Iran War Chaos
Travel chaos is spreading as several major airlines and cruise lines pull out of Middle Eastern routes following the outbreak of war involving Iran. Passengers face cancellations and reshuffles, while cruise ships are stranded in Gulf ports. Here’s the full lowdown.
Flight Schedules Grounded Across Middle East Hubs
- American Airlines halts flights to Doha, Tel Aviv, Abu Dhabi, Amman, Bahrain, and Dubai. Passengers booked through March 15 can reschedule for up to a year without penalty.
- Delta Air Lines cancels JFK to Tel Aviv flights through at least March 8, with return flights suspended until March 9. Waivers allow flexible rebooking or cancellations through April 15. All flights in the region through March 31 are affected.
- United Airlines cancels routes to Tel Aviv till March 6 and extends waivers covering Tel Aviv, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Beirut, and Erbil through March 31. Changes come free of charge.
Cruise Ships Caught in Crossfire
Four cruise lines with ships in the Arabian Gulf have halted operations amid escalating tensions. North American markets feel the pinch especially from MSC Cruises and Celestyal Cruises.
Celestyal Cruises announced cancellations of March 2 sailings for its Celestyal Journey and Celestyal Discovery vessels, following earlier Feb. 28 cancellations:
“We regret to inform our guests and travel partners that due to the current situation in the Middle East, the Celestyal Journey departing Dubai and the Celestyal Discovery departing Abu Dhabi on March 2 have been cancelled.”
The Celestyal Journey will stay docked in Doha until March 7, with plans to resume its Desert Days itinerary if conditions allow. Guests onboard may choose to stay or disembark at their leisure.
The Celestyal Discovery remains in Dubai but cannot disembark passengers due to local government orders. The ship’s March 2 sailing was its last in the Arabian Gulf before repositioning to the Mediterranean.
All affected passengers are offered full refunds or future cruise credits.
Meanwhile, MSC Cruises’ MSC Euribia is currently docked in Dubai following guidance from regional US military authorities, suspending its Arabian Gulf operations.
Travel Warnings Issued
The US State Department has urged American travellers worldwide to “exercise increased caution.” It reissued Level 3 “Reconsider Travel” warnings for Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza citing unrest, terrorism, and crime.
Travellers abroad are advised to sign up for the State Department’s STEP program and WhatsApp alerts for real-time security updates.
The Middle East upheaval has thrown travel plans into turmoil with no sign of quick resolution. Passengers are urged to check in with airlines and cruise operators before making any moves.
