New war chaos in the Middle East has travel giants hitting the brakes. After the US and Israel pounded over 1,000 targets in Iran, retaliation came swiftly and fiercely. Iran launched missile and drone strikes at Israel, US bases, and energy hubs in Saudi Arabia and Qatar. Now, airlines and cruise lines are scrambling to pull out for safety.
Airlines Ground Flights to the Region
- American Airlines halted all flights between Philadelphia and Doha. Its eagerly awaited New York to Tel Aviv route, set for March 28, is now postponed indefinitely.
- They issued a sweeping waiver covering rescheduling on flights to Doha, Tel Aviv, Abu Dhabi, Amman, Bahrain, and Dubai for trips through March 15.
- Delta Air Lines axed all JFK to Tel Aviv flights until at least March 9, extending waivers through March 31 for free rebooks or cancellations.
- United Airlines also cancelled US-Tel Aviv flights until March 6 and offered two waivers covering Tel Aviv, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Beirut, and Erbil throughout March.
Cruise Lines Cut Arabian Gulf Trips
Five cruise lines with Arabian Gulf itineraries are reeling. Four already have ships stuck in the region, unable to set sail.
- Celestyal Cruises cancelled sailings on March 2 for its Celestyal Journey and Discovery ships. The Journey stays docked in Doha till March 7, while the Discovery remains in Dubai awaiting disembarkation clearance.
- Guests can choose full refunds or future cruise credits.
- MSC Cruises sidelined MSC Euribia in Dubai following US military guidance, halting usual sailings amid the conflict.
- Other lines like TUI Cruises and Aroya Cruises, which don’t primarily serve North America, have also halted operations.
Official Travel Warnings Hit High Alert
The US Department of State issued a Worldwide Caution advisory, urging Americans everywhere to stay vigilant. Specific travel warnings for Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza remain at Level 3: Reconsider Travel – due to unrest, terrorism, and crime.
“Travelers should enroll in the State Department’s STEP program and join their WhatsApp group for real-time security updates,” the advisory stated.
With the volatile situation showing no sign of easing, travellers are urged to rethink Middle East plans as airlines and cruise companies pull out to keep passengers safe.
