Several international airlines have temporarily suspended or adjusted flights to parts of the Middle East amid rising geopolitical risk and updated airspace safety guidance. The move follows reports of a large US naval deployment moving towards the Gulf and intensifying rhetoric between the US and Iran.
The changes are affecting routes to Israel, parts of the GCC, and Jordan, with airlines stressing that the measures are precautionary and subject to constant operational review.
This article was updated with the latest information on Monday, January 26, 2026.
Which airlines have suspended or changed flights?
Several European, North American, and Asian carriers have confirmed cancelations or operational changes to flight routes across the Middle East.
Air France
On Friday, January 23, Air France paused select Middle East services, including flights between Paris and Dubai, however, it resumed the routes on Saturday, January 24, although stressed it continues to monitor the situation closely.
KLM
Dutch carrier KLM has halted all routes to Tel Aviv, Dubai, Dammam, and Riyadh until further notice, while completely avoiding the airspace of Iran, Iraq, and Israel.
Lufthansa Group
Lufthansa, Swiss International Air Lines, and Austrian Airlines have suspended overnight flights to Tel Aviv and Amman, restricting operations to daytime-only services to avoid crew layovers in the region. Lufthansa has also suspended all flights to Tehran until at least Saturday, March 28.
British Airways
On Friday, British Airways halted overnight flights to Dubai, following a temporary suspension of flights to Bahrain, home to the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet, earlier in the week. As of Monday, January 26, flights have resumed between London Heathrow (LHR) and Bahrain (BAH).
North American carriers
United Airlines and Air Canada have confirmed suspensions of flights to Israel until further notice, citing security considerations.
Low-cost carriers
Wizz Air has warned passengers that, due to the avoidance of Iranian and Iraqi airspace, some westbound flights from Dubai and Abu Dhabi now require technical refueling stops in Larnaca (Cyprus) or Thessaloniki (Greece). IndiGo, India‘s low-cost carrier, has also announced a suspension of flights to and from Almaty, Baku, Tashkent, and Tbilisi amid security concerns around Iranian airspace.
Which destinations are affected?
The impact has widened to include major regional hubs and key transit corridors:
- Tel Aviv: widespread pauses by major Western carriers
- Dubai and Abu Dhabi: selective evening suspensions and longer flight times due to rerouting
- Riyadh and Dammam: targeted cancelations by European airlines, including KLM
- Amman: restricted to daylight-only operations by the Lufthansa Group
- India: flights to and from India risk being canceled due to major airspace closures blocking routes
- Iranian and Iraqi airspace: now avoided entirely by many Western airlines
