Massive Flight Chaos Hits the Middle East
Almost 6,000 flights have been scrapped worldwide, with nearly 30,000 more delayed as soaring conflicts in the Middle East shut down some of the globe’s busiest airports. Travellers are stranded across continents amid a chaotic shutdown of hubs including Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Doha.
Flights to and from major parts of the region are suspended until at least Monday, as governments issue urgent travel warnings and airlines scramble to reschedule.
The UK Government has stepped in, advising against all but essential travel to Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, and the UAE. Travel to Iran is completely discouraged.
Iran’s Retaliation Sparks Regional Aviation Shutdown
The crisis kicked off after US and Israeli “pre-emptive” strikes on Iran on Saturday aimed at curbing Tehran’s nuclear progress. Iran’s retaliatory missile and suicide drone attacks targeted Israel, the Gulf states, and key transit hubs.
Dubai International Airport reported damage, while airports in Abu Dhabi and Kuwait also suffered strikes. Loud explosions echoed over Dubai and Doha for the second straight day.
This comes as millions worldwide prepare for the busy Easter travel period, now thrown into chaos.
Airlines Warn of Ongoing Disruption and Flight Suspensions
- Emirates suspended all Dubai flights until 3 pm UAE time on Monday, urging passengers to rebook or claim refunds.
- Etihad Airways halted all Abu Dhabi flights until early Monday morning, warning that delays will continue as airspace remains closed.
- Qatar Airways maintains flight suspensions until the safe reopening of Qatari airspace, cautioning against scammers impersonating the airline online.
Airspace across Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Israel, Bahrain, UAE, and Qatar remains closed, squeezing airlines into limited corridors and forcing costly reroutes.
Expert Warns of Nightmarish Battle to Get Home
Aviation analyst John Strickland warned: “It’s the sheer volume of people and the complexity. Not just customers – crews and aircraft are all over the place.”
Travel expert Simon Calder told Radio 5 Live: “The big three Middle Eastern hubs — Dubai, Doha, Abu Dhabi — all closing is unprecedented outside the Covid pandemic. Over 250,000 passengers were due to fly through Dubai alone on Saturday.”
“Passengers boarded flights, only to be told mid-airspace closure, stuck onboard for hours, then forced back through immigration,” Calder said. “When flights resume, cancelled passengers will be last in line, fighting for limited seats.”
Long queues and chaos are reported globally — from Bali to Kathmandu — as airlines cancel or reroute flights, and travellers face prolonged delays and uncertainty.
