Airlines evacuating travelers from the Middle East conflict are struggling to move passengers as airspace closures cripple regional aviation.
Nearly a week after military strikes and missile strikes led to widespread closures of airspace in the Middle East, flights in the region remain severely disrupted. Major airline hubs now have only a few flights, stranding tens of thousands of travelers and forcing airlines, governments and regulators to come up with new evacuation plans.
For Americans following the situation, there is one major complication: US airlines cannot operate rescue flights in the region at this time.
As a result, foreign airlines, government charter flights and some partially reopened airports are taking on the daunting task of getting travelers out.
Global aviation network suddenly disrupted
When Operation Epic Fury began, the Middle East aviation network effectively came to a standstill overnight. Airspace closures spread to several countries as missile attacks and military operations intensified.
Airports in Iran, Iraq, Syria, Israel, Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait remain closed or heavily restricted. This has cut off major routes used by international airlines to connect Europe, Asia, Africa and North America.
This situation has had a huge impact on global aviation.
According to aviation analytics firm Cirium, it is estimated that there are typically 900,000 airline seats available each day to, from and within the Middle East. Since the conflict began, approximately 4.4 million seats have been canceled across the region.
Even the region’s largest airports are operating at much lower capacity. Dubai International Airport (DXB), usually one of the busiest in the world, has seen its operations drop drastically since the airspace closure began.
Normally, the airport handles about 1,200 flights each day.
Despite the chaos, a limited number of rescue flights are slowly restoring some movement.
UAE airlines lead rescue effort
The UAE was the first to make real progress, partially reopening its airspace and establishing special “safe corridors” for flights departing Dubai (DXB and Al-Maktoum International DWC), Abu Dhabi Zayed International Airport (AUH) and Sharjah International Airport (SHJ).
These routes allow a limited number of planes to leave the region, avoiding unsafe areas.
UAE-based airlines were among the first to use these corridors. Emirates, Flydubai, IndiGo and Etihad Airways began limited flights to help stranded passengers leave the country.
Since DXB and AUH are often major international transit hubs, a large number of travelers have been stranded there. Airlines have responded by using their largest teams.
Both Emirates and Etihad have used their Airbus A380s on some flights, allowing them to carry hundreds of passengers at a time. Many of these flights have been directed to European and Asian cities, such as London or Singapore. For many travelers, these flights are just the first step home, connecting with additional flights once they arrive in countries with open airspace.
Other airlines have also joined in. Flight tracking shows that Air India, Air Arabia, Uzbekistan Airways, Kenya Airways, Royal Air Maroc, Flynas, Royal Jordanian and SpiceJet are flying from Dubai back to their home countries.
European airlines launch repatriation flights
Airlines outside the region are also playing a role in the evacuation effort, particularly in neighboring countries where airports remain operational.
Muscat, Oman, has become one of the main escape routes for travelers leaving the conflict zone.
European airlines, including Lufthansa, Swiss, Smartwings, Aegean Airlines and British Airways, have been operating special repatriation flights from Muscat International Airport (MCT) to bring citizens home.
Some airlines have also attempted direct rescue flights from Dubai. Croatia Airlines and Smartwings have carried out some flights to evacuate stranded travelers.
However, the security situation has forced airlines to remain cautious. While the frequency of Iranian missile and drone incursions into UAE airspace has decreased, the country continues to experience intermittent incursions, even as recently like Thursday, March 5.
Air France announced plans for a repatriation flight from Dubai to Paris, but quickly canceled it due to what the airline called “the current security situation.”
Russian companies Aeroflot and S7 Airlines also continued to transport passengers from the region. However, its flights to Moscow are taking much longer because planes must divert from large sections of restricted airspace.
Even with these flights, there are still not enough seats for everyone who wants to leave.
British Airways said on social media that all of its limited rescue flights for the weekend were already full.
US airlines cannot carry out rescue missions
While airlines in other countries have begun evacuation flights, most U.S. airlines have not participated in the rescue efforts.
The reason is regulatory.
US-based airlines cannot operate flights in hazardous airspace without approval from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
As a result, airlines such as United Airlines and Delta Air Lines have focused on suspending service and helping to safely relocate crews.
United Airlines, which had been operating flights to both Ben Gurion Airport (TLV) in Tel Aviv and DXB, spent several days working to get its pilots and flight attendants out of the region after the conflict escalated.
The Association of Flight Attendants saying military action had put airline crews “in danger.”
The Airline Pilots Association said all United crew members were eventually evacuated from Dubai. Some reportedly traveled through Saudi Arabia by land before taking commercial flights from Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport (RUH).
United has canceled its TLV and DXB flights until at least March 11. Delta Air Lines has suspended its flights between New York JFK and TLV until March 22.
The US government organizes charter flights
Since US airlines are unable to make rescue flights, the US government has stepped in to help stranded citizens.
The US State Department confirmed that charter flights are now being used to evacuate Americans from the region.
A charter flight carrying U.S. citizens departed the Middle East on Wednesday and officials say additional flights will be added as security conditions allow.
So far, the State Department says nearly 18,000 Americans have returned to the United States since the crisis began. About 7,300 of those travelers received direct assistance from the government.
Authorities say thousands more have arrived in Europe or Asia and are continuing their journey home from there.
Americans still in the region are urged to contact the State Department’s 24-hour emergency task force or register online for help.
Officials say registering helps them know where citizens are and allows the government to quickly notify people when evacuation flights are available.
