The US-Israel-Iran conflict, now in its sixth day, has triggered prolonged airspace closures across the Middle East, severely hampering commercial aviation and stranding thousands of passengers. Key hubs such as Dubai, Doha, Abu Dhabi, and others face ongoing restrictions, leading to extended suspensions by major carriers.
Emirates has confirmed that all scheduled flights to and from Dubai will remain grounded until 11:59 p.m. UAE time on March 7, 2026, owing to persistent regional airspace limitations. The airline is running a restricted schedule, giving priority to passengers with earlier reservations and permitting transit passengers solely when their onward flight is active.
Qatar Airways continues to suspend operations temporarily after Qatari airspace was closed. Services will restart only upon confirmation from the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority that the airspace is secure. The carrier plans to issue its next update by 09:00 Doha time on March 6, 2026.
Etihad Airways has prolonged the suspension of all flights to and from Abu Dhabi until 06:00 UAE time on March 6, 2026, directly linked to the airspace challenges.
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Indian airlines are showing signs of partial recovery amid the crisis. Air India is monitoring developments closely and has initiated limited services to and from Dubai and Jeddah primarily to repatriate stranded individuals, with passenger safety as the top concern. Most Middle East routes stay suspended until 23:59 IST on March 5, 2026. Scheduled flights to Jeddah are set to resume from March 5, alongside an extra high-capacity Mumbai-Dubai-Delhi operation using a B777 aircraft on the same day.
IndiGo, per its March 4 advisory, has restarted flights to Athens, Muscat, Jeddah, and Madinah, plus certain repatriation services to the UAE. The carrier is methodically rebuilding connectivity on disrupted routes and advises passengers to verify flight status and await confirmation before traveling to airports.
Akasa Air’s operations to and from Doha, Kuwait, and Riyadh remain halted until March 5, 2026.
The human toll in Iran is mounting, with the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) documenting at least 1,097 civilian deaths—including 181 children—and more than 5,400 injuries, including 100 children, since the conflict erupted.
The UAE has activated safe air corridors to support the return of its citizens and the departure of visitors. Economy and Tourism Minister Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri stated the nation can handle up to 48 emergency flights per hour, with potential increases depending on safety reviews.
In India, disruptions have hit major airports hard. According to PTI, approximately 180 flights were cancelled on Wednesday across Mumbai, Delhi, and Bengaluru alone.
Several governments, including those of India and the United States, are coordinating evacuations for nationals caught in the Gulf region as airlines continue adapting to the fluid and hazardous environment.
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