At 02:00 EST on Saturday, February 28, 2026, the United States and Israel launched coordinated attacks against Iran in what has been dubbed Operation Epic Fury.
Within hours, the effects could be seen both on the ground and in the air.
Flight tracking maps showed nearly empty skies over Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Israel and Bahrain after the attacks began and Iran responded with missiles. One of the world’s busiest air corridors quickly emptied.
Witnesses told Reuters they heard explosions in cities across the Gulf, including Doha, Abu Dhabi and Dubai. As military activity increased, governments in the region began closing their airspace to civilian flights.
This led to a series of aviation closures across the region.
Airspace closures spread throughout the region
By midday Saturday, much of the Middle East had closed or heavily restricted civilian flights.
Countries that have completely closed their airspace:
- Iran
- Israel
- Iraq
- Kuwait
- Bahrain
- Qatar
- Jordan
Countries reporting restrictions or partial closures:
- United Arab Emirates
- Syria (southern corridors)
- Oman
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) advised airlines to avoid flying in several affected areas due to the risks of ongoing military operations.
Flight tracking services showed a rapid and dramatic change, as flights that normally crossed the Gulf were forced to divert north or south. The normal flow of long-haul aircraft between Europe and Asia disappeared from the map.
The megacenters of the Gulf come to a standstill
The closure of major Gulf airports had the greatest impact.
Dubai International Airport (DXB), the world’s busiest for international travel, suspended all flights “until further notice”, along with Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC). in a statementDubai airports told passengers not to come to the airport and to contact their airlines directly.
Dubai International Airport served nearly 100 million passengers last year, according to Reuters. On Saturday, most departures were canceled.
At Doha’s Hamad International Airport (DOH), the gates were almost empty as stranded passengers waited to rebook their flights or find hotel rooms, according to a Reuters witness.
Kuwait International Airport (KWI) was also affected. Authorities said an Iranian drone strike caused some damage to a passenger terminal and minor injuries, leading to the postponement of all arrivals and departures.
Etihad Airways suspended departures from Abu Dhabi Zayed International Airport (AUH) until at least 10:00 GMT on Sunday. Emirates and flydubai also suspended flights to and from Dubai due to the airspace closure. Airlines told crew members to check their schedules for changes and allowed stranded staff to use company phones to contact family members.
“There are crews, planes and passengers stranded all over the world. It is a huge logistical nightmare,” a spokesman for the Gulf airline told Reuters.
Airlines suspend, divert and cancel
The disruption soon affected areas outside the Middle East as well.
Preliminary data from Cirium, reported by Reuters, showed that around 24 percent of flights to the Middle East were canceled on February 28. About half of flights to Qatar and Israel were canceled, and about 28 percent of flights to Kuwait were canceled.
You have crews, planes and passengers stranded all over the world. It’s a huge logistical nightmare.
A Gulf airline source via Reuters
Major airlines announcing suspensions or cancellations include:
- Lufthansa: Suspension of flights to Dubai over the weekend and suspension of routes to Tel Aviv, Beirut and Oman until March 7
- British airlines: Cancellation of flights to Tel Aviv and Bahrain until March 3
- Air France and KLM: Cancellation of services to Tel Aviv and Beirut
- Wizz Air: Suspension of routes to Israel, Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Amman
- Russian carriers: Suspension of flights to Iran and Israel
- Virgin Atlantic: Avoid Iraqi airspace and divert flights
In the United States, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines suspended flights to Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport (TLV) and DXB. American Airlines flights to Doha were affected. All three airlines issued waivers allowing customers to rebook without change fees until March 5.
A growing global domino effect
The Middle East is an important link between Europe and Asia. When this route is closed, the effects reach far beyond the region and can be felt around the world.
Flights now have to take longer routes in restricted airspace, adding hours to travel and consuming more fuel. The planes and crews are not where they should be. Cargo shipments are delayed and there are growing concerns about insurance and security.
The region became even more important for east-west flights after airlines began avoiding Russian and Ukrainian airspace due to the conflict. The loss of another vital corridor makes global air traffic even more congested.
Security experts warn that these airspace closures could continue for some time.
“Passengers and airlines can expect airspace to be closed for quite some time in the region. The impact on regional aviation is immediate and very fluid,” Eric Schouten, head of aviation security adviser Dyami, told Reuters.
As of Saturday night, there was no timeline for reopening major Gulf airports. Military operations and retaliatory attacks continue.
