Several worldwide airlines have briefly suspended or adjusted flights to components of the Middle East, amid rising geopolitical danger and up to date airspace security steerage. The transfer follows reviews of a giant 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, components of the GCC and Jordan, with airways stressing that the measures are precautionary and topic to fixed operational evaluate.
This article was up to date with the latest info on Monday 26 January 2026
Which airways have suspended or modified flights?
Several European, North American and Asian carriers have confirmed cancellations or operational modifications to flight routes throughout the Middle East.
Air France: On Friday 23 January, Air France paused choose Middle East companies, together with flights between Paris and Dubai; nonetheless, it resumed the routes on Saturday 24 January, though it burdened it continues to monitor the state of affairs intently.
KLM: Dutch service KLM has halted all routes to Tel Aviv, Dubai, Dammam and Riyadh till additional discover, whereas fully avoiding the airspace of Iran, Iraq and Israel.
Lufthansa Group: Lufthansa, Swiss International Air Lines and Austrian Airlines have suspended in a single day flights to Tel Aviv and Amman, limiting operations to daytime-only companies to keep away from crew layovers in the area. Lufthansa has additionally suspended all flights to Tehran till at the least Saturday 28 March.
British Airways: On Friday, British Airways halted in a single day flights to Dubai, following a brief suspension of flights to Bahrain, dwelling to the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet, earlier in the week. As of Monday 26 January, flights have resumed between London Heathrow (LHR) and Bahrain (BAH).
North American carriers: United Airlines and Air Canada have confirmed suspensions of flights to Israel till additional discover, citing safety issues.
Low-cost carriers: Wizz Air has warned passengers that, due to the avoidance of Iranian and Iraqi airspace, some westbound flights from Dubai and Abu Dhabi now require technical refuelling stops in Larnaca (Cyprus) or Thessaloniki (Greece). IndiGo, India’s low-cost service, has additionally introduced a suspension of flights to and from Almaty, Baku, Tashkent and Tbilisi amid safety issues round Iranian airspace.
Which locations are affected?
The affect has widened to embody main regional hubs and key transit corridors:
- Tel Aviv: widespread pauses by main Western carriers
- Dubai and Abu Dhabi: selective night suspensions and longer flight occasions due to rerouting
- Riyadh and Dammam: focused cancellations by European airways, together with KLM
- Amman: restricted to daylight-only operations by the Lufthansa Group
- India: flights to and from India danger being cancelled due to main airspace closures blocking routes
- Iranian and Iraqi airspace: now prevented completely by many Western airways
While main Gulf carriers akin to Emirates and Qatar Airways proceed to function, they’re closely rerouting round the Tehran Flight Information Region (FIR), including 30 to 90 minutes to some flight occasions. Flydubai has additionally cancelled a number of companies to Iranian cities, together with Tehran, Mashhad and Shiraz.
Why are airways suspending flights now?
Aviation danger assessments have escalated following affirmation from President Donald Trump {that a} “big flotilla,” led by the USS Abraham Lincoln strike group, is heading in the direction of the area.