This afternoon, the UK’s national airline announced it would curtail its flight schedule across the region and cancel flights to certain cities. (Image: Ceri Breeze via Getty Images)
British Airways has axed hundreds of flights to nations across the Middle East as the conflict in Iran intensifies.
This afternoon, the UK’s national airline announced it would curtail its flight schedule across the region and cancel flights to certain cities. BA chiefs have opted to suspend all flights to Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates until “later this year”.
Although the airline hasn’t specified how many services have been cancelled, given its daily services to Abu Dhabi prior to the war, the total number of flights grounded easily runs into the hundreds.
“Due to the continuing uncertainty of the situation in the Middle East and airspace instability, we’ve had to temporarily reduce our flying schedule in the region. We’ve cancelled all flights to and from Amman, Bahrain, Doha, Dubai and Tel Aviv until later this month and to and from Abu Dhabi until later this year. We’re keeping the situation under constant review and are in touch with our customers to offer them a range of options,” the statement from BA reads.
“We have limited seats remaining on our repatriation flights from Oman (Muscat) to London Heathrow on 11 and 12 March for customers with an existing booking. Following these dates, the flights will pause due to reduced demand but will be kept under continuous review.”
This image grab taken from Iranian state television broadcasted on February 28, 2026, show what it says is the site of deadly US and Israeli strikes that hit a girls’ elementary school in Minab, in the southern Iranian province of Hormozgan near the strategic sea route of the Strait of Hormuz. The United States and Israel launched strikes against Iran on February 28, sparking fears of regional war with explosions reported across the Middle East as the Islamic republic retaliated with barrages of missiles. (Photo by Alex MITA / IRIB TV / AFP via Getty Images) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE – MANDATORY CREDIT “AFP PHOTO / IRIB / HANDOUT” – NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS – DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS (Image: IRIB TV/AFP via Getty Images)
The magnitude of the disruption to aviation caused by the US and Israeli strike on Iran has been immense. Of the 38,193 flights that were scheduled to depart from or arrive into the Middle East since February 28, 21,915 have been cancelled.
The most recent figures reveal that most routes are returning to close to normal. Of the 4,783 flights scheduled for today, 1,107 were or are anticipated to be cancelled.
If you are due to travel from or to the Middle East in the coming days, ensure you check your airline’s website for instructions and the Foreign Office website for the latest guidance.
What have the airlines said?
Aegean Airlines – Greece’s largest carrier cancelled flights to Tel Aviv until March 20; Beirut, Erbil and Baghdad until March 25; Dubai and Abu Dhabi until March 19; and Riyadh until March 14.
Air France–KLM – Air France cancelled flights to Tel Aviv and Beirut through March 13, and to Dubai and Riyadh until March 12. KLM suspended flights to Dubai, Riyadh and Dammam until March 10, and to Tel Aviv for the rest of the winter season.
Cathay Pacific – Cancelled all flights to and from Dubai and Riyadh until March 31.
Delta – Cancelled flights from New York to Tel Aviv until March 22 and from Tel Aviv to New York until March 23.
Emirates – Operating a reduced flight schedule but anticipates returning to full operations within days, depending on airspace availability and operational requirements. Etihad Airways – Has resumed a restricted commercial flight timetable between Abu Dhabi and several key destinations.
Iberia Express – The airline has cancelled all flights to and from Tel Aviv until March 10.
Lufthansa Group – Lufthansa, Austrian Airlines, Swiss and Brussels Airlines have suspended flights to Tel Aviv until April 2 and Beirut until March 28. Flights to Tehran are suspended until April 30, and to Amman, Erbil, Dammam, Dubai and Abu Dhabi until March 15.
Norwegian Air – Now intends to commence flights to Tel Aviv and Beirut on June 15, rather than the previously scheduled dates of April 1 and April 4.
Qatar Airways – Is operating a limited schedule to and from Doha, with some flights resuming from March 9 following temporary authorisation from Qatar’s civil aviation authority.
Saudia Airlines – Has suspended flights to Amman, Kuwait, Abu Dhabi, Doha and Bahrain until March 10, and to Moscow and Peshawar until March 15. Limited operations to Dubai have recommenced.
Wizz Air – Has suspended flights to Israel until March 29, and flights from mainland Europe to Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Amman and Jeddah until mid-September.