Global aviation disruption deepens
Flight cancellations in the Middle East have surpassed 23,000 since the start of the conflict, causing major disruption across global aviation.
The war in the region has triggered widespread route suspensions, millions of lost airline seats and thousands of stranded passengers as airlines continue adjusting operations.
According to aviation data analytics company Cirium, more than half of the 36,000 flights scheduled to or from the Middle East since February 28 have been cancelled. This has resulted in the loss of approximately 4.4 million available seats.
Major airlines suspend routes
Several major airlines have suspended or modified flights across the region.
Emirates, the world’s largest international airline, extended the suspension of flights to and from Dubai until the end of Saturday, marking nearly a week since coordinated military strikes by the United States and Israel.
Qatar Airways has also extended the suspension of its routes until Friday.
Meanwhile, thousands of passengers remain stranded across the Gulf region, with many seeking expensive alternative routes through airports in Saudi Arabia and Oman.
The United Arab Emirates is working to create secure air corridors that could allow up to 48 flights per hour, according to the country’s Ministry of Economy.
Airlines adjusting operations
Airlines around the world are modifying schedules, cancelling routes or adding alternative flights.
Air India is adding extra flights to meet increased demand, including additional services between Delhi and Toronto between March 5 and 11. The airline is also adding flights between Delhi and Frankfurt as well as Delhi and Paris, while some services from Delhi and Mumbai are being routed through Jeddah.
Air France has suspended flights to and from Dubai and Riyadh until March 6, while services to Tel Aviv and Beirut remain suspended until March 8. KLM has cancelled the remainder of its winter flights to Tel Aviv and suspended routes to Dammam, Riyadh and Dubai.
British Airways has halted flights to Abu Dhabi, Amman, Bahrain, Doha, Dubai and Tel Aviv, while temporarily adding flights between London and Muscat.
Cathay Pacific has cancelled flights to and from Dubai and Riyadh until March 14.
China Southern has suspended flights between Dubai and several Chinese cities including Guangzhou, Wuhan, Shenzhen and Urumqi, as well as routes linking Riyadh and Doha with Chinese destinations.
Delta Air Lines has suspended flights between New York and Tel Aviv until at least March 22.
Airlines operating evacuation or special flights
Several airlines are operating limited evacuation or repatriation flights.
Emirates has cancelled more than 2,000 flights since last Saturday, one of the largest disruptions in the airline’s history. Limited evacuation flights are operating from Dubai, but regular commercial routes remain suspended.
Etihad has extended the suspension of flights to and from Abu Dhabi until March 6 while operating limited cargo and repatriation services.
Finnair has suspended flights between Helsinki and Doha until at least March 6 and cancelled services to Dubai until March 28.
IndiGo has launched flights to Athens, Muscat, Jeddah and Medina while also operating repatriation flights to the United Arab Emirates.
Korean Air has suspended flights to Dubai until March 7.
Lufthansa Group has halted flights to Tel Aviv, Beirut, Amman, Erbil and Tehran until March 8 and is avoiding the airspace over Israel, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Dammam and Iran. Flights to Dubai and Abu Dhabi are also suspended until March 6.
Malaysia Airlines has resumed flights from Kuala Lumpur to Jeddah and Medina, while services to Doha remain suspended.
Oman Air has cancelled flights to Amman, Dubai, Bahrain, Doha, Dammam, Kuwait, Copenhagen, Baghdad and Khasab until March 6.
Qantas will operate a charter flight between Sydney and London via Singapore on March 7.
Qatar Airways continues to suspend flights from its Doha hub but plans limited assistance flights from March 5 for stranded passengers travelling via Muscat and Riyadh to several European cities.
Russia has also organised evacuation flights, with Aeroflot planning repatriation services from the United Arab Emirates to Russia.
Singapore Airlines has cancelled flights to Dubai until March 7.
Indian low-cost carrier SpiceJet is operating around 20 special flights from the United Arab Emirates to India to assist stranded passengers.
Virgin Atlantic has resumed flights from London to Dubai and Riyadh after suspending them until March 3.
Also read: Larnaca flight cancellations hit 45 on Thursday
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