Airlines suspend Middle East flights following U.S., Israel strikes on Iran; Air Canada shares update

This story was updated on Saturday, February 28 at 5:15 p.m. EST

A series of strikes by the United States and Israel on Iran, followed by Iranian retaliation, has sparked a surge in regional violence, forcing much of the Middle East to close its airspace.

U.S. President Donald Trump has said "major combat operations" are underway and urged Iranian government troops to surrender.

Earlier, Israel’s defence minister announced that Israel had carried out a pre-emptive strike on Iran, as explosions were reported in multiple locations across the country.

At least eight countries shut down their airspace as the conflict unfolded on Saturday (Feb. 28), including Iran, Israel, Iraq, Jordan, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates, reports say.

Syria also said it would close part of its southern airspace near the Israeli border for 12 hours.

The attacks by the U.S. and Israel has disrupted air travel across the region and beyond.

Qatar Airways announced it had temporarily suspended flights to and from Doha due to the closure of Qatari airspace.

Emirates also reported that several flights were impacted by the UAE’s airspace shutdown and advised travellers to check their flight status online.

The airline operates out of Dubai International Airport, one of the world’s busiest international travel hubs. "We are actively monitoring the situation and engaging with relevant authorities," Emirates wrote on its X account.

Dutch airline KLM is currently not flying through the airspace of Iran, Iraq, and Israel, nor over several countries in the Gulf region. 

"As a result, we will not be operating flights to Tel Aviv, Dubai, Riyadh, and Dammam today," the airline wrote in a statement on Saturday. "Because of the uncertainty of the situation, it is not yet clear what this will mean for flights scheduled for tomorrow. Passengers whose flights have been canceled have been informed. As soon as possible, passengers will be rebooked." 

Earlier this week, KLM decided to temporarily suspend flights between Amsterdam and Tel Aviv as of March 1.

Virgin Atlantic cancelled its Heathrow-to-Dubai flight and said it would avoid Iraqi airspace, which could slightly extend travel times for routes to and from India, the Maldives, Dubai, and Riyadh.

The airline had already been steering clear of Iranian airspace and said its planes would carry extra fuel to allow for sudden rerouting if necessary.

The European Union's aviation regulator EASA on Saturday recommended its airlines stay out of the airspace affected by the ongoing military intervention, Reuters reported.

British Airways said it had cancelled flights to Tel Aviv and Bahrain until March 3, along with its scheduled Saturday service to Amman.

Russia’s Ministry of Transport announced on Saturday that Russian airlines had halted flights to both Iran and Israel.

Germany’s Lufthansa said it would suspend flights to and from Dubai on Saturday and Sunday, and would also pause services to Tel Aviv, Beirut, and Oman until March 7.

Air France likewise cancelled its flights to Tel Aviv and Beirut.

Iberia also stopped its Tel Aviv flights, while Wizz Air immediately suspended routes to and from Israel, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Amman until the same date, Reuters reportd.

Several Indian airlines, including Air India, have also paused flights to the Middle East.

Dubai International and Dubai World Central – Al Maktoum International were shut down about 7 a.m. ET Saturday, according to a statement from Dubai Airports. 

All flight operations at the airports were suspended until further notice, the agency said.

Update from Air Canada

Air Canada has cancelled flights from Canada to Israel until March 8 and to Dubai until March 3, the airline announced late Saturday (Feb. 28).

“We are monitoring the situation and will adjust our schedule accordingly,” the airline wrote on its X account.

Air Canada has also revised its ticketing policy to make it easier for customers travelling on an affected flight to make changes to their booking without penalty (space permitting). 

Those who purchased a ticket with Air Canada Vacations are advised to contact the company directly at 1-800-296-3408.

The airline previously cancelled its Dubai service for Saturday but has now extended its cancellations.

"We are monitoring the situation closely and will provide updates accordingly. Air Canada’s top priority is the safety of its customers, crews and aircraft and this will be the determining factor in our decision-making," wrote airline spokesperson Peter Fitzpatrick in an email to PAX on Saturday. 

"Airlines are adjusting routes and schedules"

Because most airlines have been unable to use Russian and Ukrainian airspace during the prolonged war, the Middle East has become an even more critical corridor for flights connecting Europe and Asia.

War zones are creating growing challenges for airlines, as missile strikes and military activity increase the risk of commercial planes being accidentally or intentionally targeted.

At the same time, rerouting flights to avoid dangerous areas leads to longer travel distances, greater fuel consumption, and higher operating expenses.

Toronto Pearson (YYZ) posted a travel advisory Saturday morning, writing that some flights at the airport are impacted by "changes to international airspace." 

"Airlines are adjusting routes and schedules in response, which may lead to delays or cancellations," the airport wrote on its X account. "Passengers are advised to check their flight status directly with their airline before coming to the airport." 

Global Affairs Canada has also issued a notice to travellers, saying “the security situation in the Middle East could deteriorate significantly without notice.”

“There is ongoing military activity in the region,” the department wrote. “Be prepared to shelter in place if instructed by local authorities and monitor media to stay informed.”

Canadian citizens and permanent residents in the Middle east needing emergency assistance can are being advised to contact me-mo.sos@international.gc.ca.

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