Some Middle East Flights Resume, but Thousands of Travelers Are Still Stranded by War

As limited flights resume from key hubs like Dubai and Abu Dhabi, thousands of travelers remain stranded across the Middle East amid escalating conflict triggered by U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran.[1][2] Major airlines such as Etihad, Emirates, and Flydubai have begun operating select repatriation and repositioning flights, offering slight relief after nearly 10,000 cancellations since late February.[1][2]

A Glimmer of Hope Amid Airspace Chaos

On Monday, March 2, 2026, the first signs of recovery emerged at UAE airports. Etihad Airways launched at least 15 flights from Abu Dhabi International, ferrying stranded passengers to destinations including Islamabad, Paris, Amsterdam, Mumbai, Cairo, and London Heathrow.[1] These were primarily evacuation and cargo operations, coordinated with UAE authorities, while regular commercial services stay suspended until at least 2 pm local time on Wednesday, March 4.[1]

Emirates followed suit, resuming a limited number of flights from Dubai International in the evening. The airline prioritized customers with prior bookings, contacting them directly for rebookings.[1][2] Dubai Airports confirmed operations restarting at both Dubai International (DXB) and Al Maktoum International (DWC), though only a small number of flights were permitted.[1][4] Flydubai operated four outbound and five inbound flights from Dubai on Monday, emphasizing a gradual return under close monitoring.[1]

Flightradar24 tracked Emirates flight UAE500 departing Dubai—the first since February 28—drawing over 138,000 viewers, underscoring global attention on the crisis.[1] Dubai’s government urged passengers to approach airports only if contacted, as over 80% of scheduled flights from Dubai and more than half from Abu Dhabi remained canceled.[1]

Yet, Doha’s Hamad International Airport reported flights “temporarily suspended,” with no immediate resumption announced.[2] This patchwork recovery highlights the dynamic and fragile state of regional aviation, where safety approvals dictate every takeoff.[1]

The Scale of the Stranding Crisis

The war’s toll on air travel is staggering. Flightradar24 reported over 3,400 cancellations across seven major Middle East airports (DXB, DOH, AUH, SHJ, KWI, BAH, DWC) on March 2 alone, pushing the total past 9,500 since February 28.[2] Daily breakdowns show 1,400+ on February 28, 3,400+ on March 1, and another 3,400+ on March 2, with 1,300+ projected for March 3.[2]

Hundreds of thousands could be affected, given that hubs like Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Doha handle around 90,000 passengers daily on Emirates, Etihad, and Qatar Airways alone, per aviation analytics firm Cirium.[2] Tourists and business travelers are hunkered down in hotels and airports, facing uncertainty as Iranian retaliatory strikes targeted civilian and military sites in U.S.-friendly Gulf states.[2] Social media videos captured chaos at Dubai International, with passengers fleeing smoke-filled hallways after a suspected drone strike.[2]

Airspace closures over Iran, Iraq, Israel, and Gulf countries compounded the disruption, forcing airlines worldwide to reroute or ground flights.[1] Airports in these hubs, vital for Europe-Americas-Africa-Asia connections, ground to a halt over the weekend.[2]

Airlines Scramble with Cancellations and Waivers

Dozens of carriers extended suspensions. Air Canada halted all Dubai and Tel Aviv flights until March 23.[1] Air India prolonged bans to UAE, Saudi Arabia, Israel, and Qatar until 11:59 pm local time on March 2.[1] Wizz Air paused all services to Israel, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Amman, and Saudi Arabia through March 7.[1]

European airlines followed: Air France canceled Tel Aviv, Beirut, Dubai, and Riyadh flights until March 5; KLM suspended Iranian, Iraqi, and Israeli airspace use, with Dubai flights halted until March 5 and Tel Aviv for the winter season.[1] British Airways grounded Tel Aviv and Bahrain until March 4, offering free changes or refunds for affected bookings through mid-March.[1] Finnair and Norwegian suspended Dubai and Doha runs until March 6 and 4, respectively.[1]

Regional players like Oman Air, Saudia, and Turkish Airlines axed flights to multiple cities including Amman, Dubai, Bahrain, Doha, and more through March 3 or beyond.[1] U.S. carriers United, Delta, and American Airlines issued waivers: United allows fee-free rescheduling to Dubai/Tel Aviv through March 31 for tickets bought by February 28; Delta canceled New York-Tel Aviv until March 8.[3]

Many airlines waived change fees and fare differences for rebookings through April 15, providing flexibility amid the unrest.[3]

Broader Impacts and What Lies Ahead

Cargo operations also faltered, with carriers suspending Middle East routes and capacity plummeting.[5] Repatriation flights offer priority evacuation, but the “situation remains dynamic,” as Flydubai noted, with airstrikes dictating schedules.[1]

Stranded travelers face mounting challenges: hotel stays, visa issues, and disrupted plans. Governments and airlines urge checking updates directly, as over 80% of flights from key hubs stay grounded.[1]

While Monday’s departures signal progress, full recovery hinges on de-escalation. Major hubs’ partial reopenings are a start, but thousands remain in limbo, waiting for safer skies.[2] Travelers should monitor airline apps, Flightradar24, and official advisories for real-time changes.

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Original source: NPR News – Some Middle East flights resume, but thousands of travelers are still stranded by war