A number of countries closed their airspace, while carriers including Qatar Airways, Emirates, and Virgin Atlantic cancelled or rerouted flights. Turkish Airlines suspended several routes until Monday.
The US and Israel's attack on Iran disrupted flights across the region and beyond on Saturday, leaving millions of air travellers affected.
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Countries including Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) closed their airspace, forcing flight suspensions, cancellations and diversions.
While planes en route to Israel were rerouted to other airports, flights by carriers like Emirates and Etihad were also affected by the UAE airspace closure, as both airlines urged passengers to check their flight status online. Qatar Airways Group said that flight operations to Doha remain temporarily suspended until midnight UTC (1:00 am CET on Sunday).
Other Middle Eastern regional carriers, such as EgyptAir, suspended flights from Cairo to Kuwait, Dubai, Doha, Bahrain, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Qassim, Dammam, Erbil, Baghdad, Amman, Beirut, and Muscat because of the escalation.
The General Authority of Civil Aviation in the State of Kuwait confirmed that the country’s international airport was struck by a drone on Saturday, resulting in “minor injuries to a number of employees”, in addition to “limited material damage” to the passenger building.
Carriers from Europe to Asia all suspended flights
In Europe, German airline Lufthansa cancelled its flights until 7 March to several Middle East destinations, including Tel Aviv, Beirut, Amman, Erbil and Tehran, due to what it called "security concerns." Additionally, flights to and from Dubai and Abu Dhabi are also suspended until 1 March.
Dutch airline KLM had already announced earlier in the week that it was suspending flights to and from Tel Aviv starting Sunday.
And in Italy, ITA Airways suspended flights to and from Tel Aviv, avoiding Israeli, Lebanese, Jordanian, Iraqi and Iranian airspace until 7 March.
France, Poland, UK carriers suspend flights
Air France cancelled flights to and from Tel Aviv and Beirut scheduled for 28 February, while Polish Airlines LOT also suspended its Tel Aviv services in response to the situation.
Meanwhile, British Airways said it suspended flights to the region, including Tel Aviv, amid the escalation, and Virgin Atlantic cancelled its flight from Heathrow Airport in London to Dubai and said it would avoid flying over Iraq. The airline was already not flying over Iran.
According to Virgin Atlantic, all flights would carry appropriate fuel in case they needed to reroute on short notice.
Turkish Airlines posted on X that flights to Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Iran, and Jordan will be suspended until 2 March and that flights on 28 February to Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, and Oman are cancelled. The airline said additional cancellations may be announced.
In Asia, Air India suspended flights to Iran and Israel and is rerouting to avoid affected airspace. SriLankan Airlines said that all flights departing from Colombo to the Middle East have been cancelled until midday on 1 March.
Various Russian airlinesalso suspended flights to Iran and Israel following the Russian Ministry of Transport's advice.
Are passengers entitled to compensation?
Responding to the flight cancellations, Ella Jo Rhodes, a travel expert at UK consumer champion Which?, said: “In light of the ongoing situation in the Middle East, many airlines are taking precautionary steps to amend their schedules, including cancelling flights in the region. Given the extraordinary circumstances, passengers on delayed or cancelled flights will not be entitled to compensation.
“However, if you are flying with a UK or EU airline, or are departing a UK or EU airport with any carrier, your airline should provide assistance during your delay. Depending on the length of your delay, assistance may include food and drink and, where necessary, overnight accommodation. If your journey is cancelled, you are entitled to a full refund.”