Airlines around the world are once again cancelling and reducing flights across the Middle East as renewed conflict between the US and Iran raises safety concerns for aviation.
The latest escalation follows a brief period of easing tensions in June, when the two countries had moved towards renewed diplomatic talks. However, fresh military strikes and retaliatory attacks targeting ships and locations across the Gulf have prompted airlines to review operations, with several countries including Kuwait, Jordan, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman affected by missile and drone activity.
While major Gulf hubs including Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha remain open, many airlines have reduced schedules, suspended routes or rerouted flights to avoid affected airspace.
British Airways, Lufthansa, Cathay Pacific, KLM, Japan Airlines and AirBaltic are among the carriers that have extended cancellations or paused services to destinations including Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Riyadh, Doha and other cities across the region.
Singapore carriers have also been affected. Singapore Airlines has extended the suspension of its Singapore–Dubai service until 24 October, while Scoot has cancelled flights between Singapore and Jeddah until 27 July.
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency has advised airlines to avoid flying through the airspace of several Gulf states until at least 29 July because of the heightened risk from military activity.
Although widespread airport closures have been avoided, travellers should continue to expect longer flight times, schedule changes and occasional cancellations as airlines reroute aircraft and adjust operations. The disruption comes during the peak northern hemisphere summer travel season, when demand for flights through major Gulf hubs is typically at its highest.