Flight cancellations continue at airports in Dubai, Qatar, Abu Dhabi, and elsewhere as Iran war escalates
Following U.S. and Israeli strikes in Iran this weekend, airlines around the region and world have canceled thousands of flights amid continued conflict in the Middle East.
Temporary regional airspace closures have led to airspace restrictions, forcing airlines to cancel flights and stranding countless passengers.
As of Monday, March 2, 2026, airspace across many parts of the Middle East remained partially or fully closed. According to FlightRadar24, the following airspace regions remain partially or fully closed today:
- Iran
- Iraq
- Qatar
- Bahrain
- Jordan
- Kuwait
- Syria
- Israel
United Arab Emirates (OMAE) airspace remains heavily restricted. A limited number of commercial flights were temporarily allowed to depart from Abu Dhabi (AUH) today.
Major travel disruptions are ongoing
According to FlightAware, which tracks flight delays, disruptions, and cancellations, 3,229 flights were canceled worldwide yesterday.
The airport with the most cancellations was Dubai International Airport (DXB), followed by Hamad International Airport (DOH) in Doha.
Dubai-based Emirates had the most flight cancellations, followed by Qatar Airways and low-cost carrier Flydubai. Flight cancellations continue today. As of 9:00 a.m. ET, 2,357 flights have been canceled. Five hundred of them are Emirates flights.
What are airlines doing during the crisis?
Major airlines based throughout the Middle East have shared guidance amid regional airspace closures and travel disruptions.
Emirates notified customers that flights to and from Dubai are temporarily suspended until 15:00 UAE time on Tuesday, March 3.
The airline urged travelers to check their email for information about flight delays or cancellations before going to the airport. Emirates has provided rebooking and refund options to impacted customers.
Etihad Airways noted that all flights to and from Abu Dhabi are suspended until 14:00 UAE time on Tuesday, March 3. The airline provided refund and rebooking options for impacted travelers.
Doha-based Qatar Airways has also notified customers of temporary flight suspensions due to the closure of Qatar’s airspace. Customers can rebook their flights to another date or receive a refund.
Low-cost carrier Flydubai announced that flights to and from Dubai were temporarily suspended until 15:00 UAE time on Tuesday, March 3.
U.S. carriers allow impacted travelers to rebook
Major U.S. airlines have also issued travel alerts and guidance.
Delta Air Lines has temporarily suspended flights to and from Tel Aviv, Israel. Impacted travelers can cancel their tickets for a refund or rebook their flights.
American Airlines travelers flying to, through, or from the following destinations can rebook their flights for a later date or cancel and receive a refund:
- Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (AUH)
- Amman, Jordan (AMM)
- Bahrain, Bahrain (BAH)
- Doha, Qatar (DOH)
- Dubai, United Arab Emirates (DXB)
- Larnaca, Cyprus (LCA)
United Airlines travelers flying to, through, or from the following destinations can rebook their flights without paying a change fee:
- Abu Dhabi (AUH)
- Beirut, Lebanon (BEY)
- Dubai (DXB)
- Erbil, Iraqi Kurdistan (EBL)
- Tel Aviv, Israel (TLV)
Some eligible travelers may also be able to cancel their tickets for a full refund.
How has the crisis impacted airline stocks?
Shares of U.S. airlines tumbled in premarket trading on Monday. Here’s how the stock prices of the three biggest U.S. airlines were faring as of this writing:
- Delta Air Lines (NYSE: DAL): Down 2.53%
- United Airlines (Nasdaq: UAL): Down 3.25%
- American Airlines (NYSE: AAL): Down 4.28%