Several airways have briefly suspended or adjusted flights to elements of the Middle East amid rising geopolitical threat and up to date airspace security steering. The transfer follows reviews of a big US naval deployment shifting in the direction of the Gulf and intensifying rhetoric between the US and Iran.
The modifications are affecting routes to Israel, elements of the GCC, and Jordan, with airways stressing that the measures are precautionary and topic to fixed operational assessment.
This article was up to date with the most recent info on Monday, January 26, 2026.
Which airways have suspended or modified flights?
Most worldwide airways have resumed regular flight operations within the Middle East as of January 26, 2026.
KLM
Dutch provider KLM briefly paused flights to Tel Aviv, Dubai, Dammam, and Riyadh on January 24 to keep away from the airspace of Iran, Iraq, and Israel. Flights to Dammam and Riyadh will resume their common schedule beginning Tuesday, January 27.
“Options for Dubai and Tel Aviv are currently being explored,” the airline stated in a statement on January 26. “We are closely monitoring the situation. All passengers who were affected by canceled flights in recent days due to the situation in the Middle East have now been rebooked. Travelers who prefer not to travel anymore may request a refund for their original flight.”
Low-cost carriers
Wizz Air told Reuters earlier in January that, due to the avoidance of Iranian and Iraqi airspace, some westbound flights from Dubai and Abu Dhabi now require technical refueling stops in Larnaca (Cyprus) or Thessaloniki (Greece). IndiGo, India‘s low-cost provider, has additionally announced a suspension of flights scheduled for January 26 via 28 to and from Almaty, Baku, Tashkent, and Tbilisi.
Which locations are affected?
The influence has widened to embody main regional hubs and key transit corridors:
- Tel Aviv: widespread pauses by main carriers
- Dubai and Abu Dhabi: selective night suspensions and longer flight instances due to rerouting
- Riyadh and Dammam: focused cancelations by European airways, together with KLM
- Amman: restricted to daylight-only operations by the Lufthansa Group
- India: flights to and from India threat being canceled due to main airspace closures blocking routes
- Iranian and Iraqi airspace: now prevented totally by many Western airways
Why are airways suspending flights now?
Aviation threat assessments have escalated following comments from President Donald Trump {that a} “big flotilla,” led by the USS Abraham Lincoln strike group, is heading in the direction of the area.
Airlines are significantly involved in regards to the threat of civil plane misidentification if regional air protection techniques are positioned on excessive alert, a state of affairs that has traditionally prompted rapid operational warning throughout the business.
What are aviation authorities advising?
On Friday, January 16, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) issued a Conflict Zone Information Bulletin (CZIB) formally recommending that airways keep away from Iranian airspace in any respect altitudes till February 16, 2026, topic to change.
The company cited an “increased likelihood of misidentification” amid the potential for navy escalation, a regulatory shift that has turn into the first driver behind the most recent wave of suspensions and rerouting.
What does this imply for vacationers?
Travelers ought to anticipate a variety of sensible disruptions, together with: