Flight Chaos in Middle East After Iran’s Retaliatory Strikes

News Desk

Islamabad: International air travel has been thrown into disarray following Iran’s retaliatory strikes on a US air base in Qatar, prompting a wave of airspace closures and widespread flight cancellations across the Middle East.

Several countries in the region temporarily shut their airspace in response to the escalation, forcing global airlines to cancel, reroute, or divert flights. Passengers travelling through affected corridors have been urged to check with their airlines for real-time updates.

Qatar Airways confirmed it has resumed operations to and from Hamad International Airport after Qatari airspace was reopened. Similarly, Dubai Airports reported a full return to normal operations following a short-lived precautionary suspension.

Despite these resumptions, the broader disruption continues to affect airline schedules. Air India has announced the immediate suspension of all services to the Middle East, as well as routes connecting to Europe and North America’s east coast, citing operational risks linked to the developing situation.

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Singapore Airlines has cancelled its Singapore-Dubai services for June 24 and 25, while Australia’s Qantas stated that its Europe-bound flights via the Middle East remain on schedule for now.

Industry experts say such disruptions, triggered by conflict and political unrest, have become an increasingly common challenge for global aviation.

“Airlines have teams constantly monitoring airspace and assessing risk,” said aviation analyst Brendan Sobie. “Even if airspace remains technically open, carriers may still consider it too risky and opt for rerouting.”

The unfolding situation underscores the aviation industry’s need for heightened adaptability and swift decision-making amid rising geopolitical tensions worldwide.