5,400 Flights Canceled at 7 Gulf Airports Due to War

More than 5,400 flights were canceled on Sunday and Monday at seven major airports in the Arabian Gulf, as airspace closures and restrictions continued for security reasons, according to flight data from Flightradar24.

More than 3,400 flights were canceled on Sunday at Dubai International, Al Maktoum International, Abu Dhabi International, and Sharjah International airports in the UAE, as well as Hamad International Airport in Qatar, Kuwait International Airport, and Bahrain International Airport.

On Monday, more than 2,000 flights to and from the same airports were canceled, continuing the disruption to air traffic in the region.

These cancellations coincided with the issuance of Notices to Airmen (NOTAMs) in recent days, indicating the imposition of restrictions and exceptional measures on air traffic in several Gulf airspaces, as a precautionary measure related to security developments in the region. The restrictions included reducing traffic on some routes, diverting flights to alternative corridors, and temporarily suspending a number of flights. Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Doha airports are major air transit hubs between Asia, Europe, and Africa, meaning any disruption to their operations has far-reaching consequences.

Airlines operating in the region have reported rescheduling or merging a number of flights, advising passengers to follow live updates on departure and arrival times.

This development comes amid escalating regional tensions in recent days, with exchanges of fire and threats between various parties, prompting several countries to take precautionary measures in their airspace in anticipation of any potential risks to civil aviation.

Airspace is typically among the first sovereign areas to be readjusted during escalations, given the sensitive nature of the overlap between civilian and military routes.

Qatar Airways announced the continued temporary suspension of its flights while Qatari airspace remains closed, confirming that it will resume operations as soon as the Civil Aviation Authority announces the safe reopening of the airspace.

In Kuwait, authorities reported that the area surrounding Kuwait International Airport was targeted by Iranian attacks as part of recent security developments. No detailed assessment of the damage or its direct impact on airport facilities has yet been released. This led to the precautionary suspension or diversion of several flights, in accordance with established air safety procedures.

In the UAE, Emirates Airline announced the temporary suspension of all its operations to and from Dubai International Airport until 3:00 PM UAE time on Tuesday, March 3, due to the closure of several airspaces in the region.

Detailed statements regarding the expected duration of the restrictions have not yet been issued by all relevant authorities. However, flight tracking data indicates continued changes in the routes of aircraft transiting Gulf airspace, with some flights resorting to longer routes through alternative airspace.

The aviation sector in the region is closely monitoring developments in the coming hours and days, anticipating continued operational disruptions as long as the air restrictions remain in place. Authorities maintain that the measures taken are aimed at preserving air navigation safety and passenger security.