June 23 – Qatar announced the temporary closure of its airspace as part of precautionary steps in response to unfolding regional developments. According to a statement from the foreign ministry, the decision was made to safeguard the safety of both residents and visitors.
The airspace shutdown follows increasing regional instability, particularly after Iran renewed threats to retaliate against the United States following reported strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities.
Airlines are now evaluating how long to maintain flight suspensions to the Middle East, as the ongoing conflict—triggered by U.S. attacks on Iranian targets and Iran’s pledge to defend itself—enters a more volatile stage.
In recent days, major carriers have begun cancelling flights to key transit hubs such as Dubai and Doha, reflecting growing concern in the aviation sector. Normally resilient to disruptions, these cities have seen sharp drops in air traffic as carriers opt to delay or reroute flights.
The typically congested airspace stretching from Iran and Iraq to the Mediterranean has been largely empty for over a week, ever since military strikes began on June 13. This has led to widespread diversions, delays, and cancellations due to safety fears and airspace restrictions.
Some airlines have extended flight suspensions—one European carrier has halted flights to Doha until at least June 30. A major Asian airline called the situation “fluid” and suspended services to Dubai through Tuesday, after initially cancelling only its Sunday flights.
Other international carriers have cancelled flights to Doha, Dubai, Riyadh, and Beirut, citing security concerns. Some are still reviewing plans for upcoming flights and are closely monitoring the evolving situation.
Experts say airlines are likely avoiding airports in Qatar, the UAE, and, to a lesser degree, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia due to the risk of potential drone or missile strikes from Iran or allied groups targeting U.S. military installations in the region.
With Russian and Ukrainian airspace already off-limits to most airlines, the Middle East had become a vital corridor for flights between Europe and Asia. Now, carriers are rerouting via longer paths north over the Caspian Sea or south through Egypt and Saudi Arabia.
These diversions come with rising costs—both in fuel and crew time. The situation is further complicated by a potential increase in jet fuel prices, driven by surging oil costs following the latest U.S. military strikes.
Some travel agencies report receiving requests from customers seeking to avoid routes through the Middle East entirely when traveling to Europe.
