Casablanca – A wave of airspace closures across the Middle East today forced widespread cancellations and diversions that left thousands of passengers stranded and disrupted freight links between the region and its international partners.
Airline operations were hit after coordinated US and Israeli strikes on Iran prompted several countries to close their skies, including Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Israel, while large swaths of airspace over Iran, Iraq, Kuwait and Bahrain were vacated as carriers avoided the region.
Dubai International, one of the world’s busiest hubs, recorded hundreds of cancellations as Emirates temporarily suspended operations to and from the airport and worked to rebook and refund affected travelers.
Airports across the Gulf reported significant reductions in departures and arrivals, and flight tracking data showed wide corridors of empty sky where aircraft normally transit.
National and regional carriers altered plans at short notice. Royal Air Maroc cancelled flights between Casablanca and Doha, identifying the closure of Qatari airspace as the reason for the cancellations and adding that additional rotations were being reviewed in line with strict safety standards.
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Other carriers, including Qatar Airways and several Gulf and European operators, announced temporary suspensions or reroutings for services that normally use Gulf air routes.
Several long haul services were disrupted en route. At least one Emirates aircraft was forced to abort a sector and return after tightening restrictions in Gulf airspace, operations officials said, and multiple flights bound for regional hubs were diverted to alternative airports.
Airlines issued travel waivers and urged passengers to check flight statuses as they worked to reschedule crews and aircraft.
The closures also affected cargo movements and logistics chains that rely on fast connections through Gulf hubs. Freight operators reported delays as planners sought longer routings to avoid closed zones, increasing transit times and operational costs.
Aviation regulators and airlines said they were monitoring the situation and would update routing and schedules when authorities reopen airspace and provide clear safety guidance.
Authorities and carriers provided little guidance on how long the closures would last, leaving travelers dependent on direct airline notices and airport announcements for the latest information.
Airlines advised passengers with affected bookings to contact their carriers for rebooking options and refunds.