Gulf Airspace Shutdown Leaves Hundreds of Thousands Stuck Worldwide
Air travel across the Gulf region has come to a near halt after Iran launched missile and drone strikes targeting Israel and several US-aligned Arab states. A missile strike at Dubai Airport injured several people and forced the cancellation of roughly 3,400 flights.
Major Middle Eastern hubs, including Dubai and Abu Dhabi, were closed, disrupting connections between Europe and Asia. The German Foreign Office has advised against travel to 13 countries in the region, highlighting the unprecedented scale of the air traffic crisis.
Airlines around the world have been forced to suspend operations. The Lufthansa Group halted flights to Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Riyadh, Dammam, Tel Aviv, Beirut, Amman, Erbil, and Tehran, with services set to remain suspended until at least March 7. British Airways, Air France-KLM, Wizz Air, and Cathay Pacific also canceled flights, while Europe’s aviation safety agency recommended avoiding the region.
The shutdown affects millions of passengers and cargo operations. Dubai alone handled around 100 million passengers annually before the strikes. “Crews, aircraft, and passengers are stranded all over the world,” said a Gulf airline insider, describing the situation as a “massive logistical nightmare.” Major Gulf carriers such as Emirates and Qatar Airways are among the world’s top cargo operators, intensifying the global impact.
Tourists and cruise passengers in the UAE are also trapped. Popular European winter destinations, including Dubai, Doha, and Abu Dhabi, now hold passengers onboard ships for safety reasons. The German Foreign Office warned residents to take airstrike alerts seriously and seek immediate shelter when necessary.