Emirates and Etihad Airways will resume limited operations as the companies try to alleviate some of the congestion caused by airspace closures following ongoing attacks from Iran.
Emirates will begin operating a limited number of flights this Monday, prioritizing customers with previous reservations, according to a statement from the Dubai-based company. Although regular flights remain canceled for now, Etihad will carry out some repositioning, cargo and repatriation flights “in coordination with the UAE authorities and subject to strict operational and security approvals”, the Abu Dhabi company said in a statement.
The air chaos across much of the Persian Gulf is the most significant since the coronavirus pandemic, leaving tens of thousands of people stranded in places including Dubai and Qatar. Flying remains risky, given the continued firing of missiles and drones by Iran, and the additional confusion caused by the war, which led to the accidental downing of three US fighter jets in Kuwait on Monday.
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Several special flights operated by Etihad took off from Abu Dhabi International Airport on Monday, according to the airport’s website and data from FlightRadar24. The terminal was one of the places damaged by the rain of drones and missiles launched by Iran this weekend. The attack resulted in one death and several injuries.
Emirates, the world’s largest international airline, suspended regular operations to and from Dubai until 3pm (local time) on Tuesday and warned of disruptions until Thursday. Etihad Airways said it had extended cancellations until 3pm on Tuesday, while Qatar Airways said flights to and from Doha had been suspended due to the closure of Qatari airspace.
Those stranded in the United Arab Emirates are still trying to leave, either by boat to Mumbai or overland to Oman. The United Kingdom said earlier on Monday that it was evaluating all options to evacuate around 300,000 British citizens currently in the region.
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Saudi Arabia has closed parts of its airspace as Iran attacked several targets in the kingdom. Jordan also restricted its airspace today.
The disruptions reached as far as Cyprus after a drone struck a British base on the island, prompting EasyJet and Lufthansa to cancel flights to the Mediterranean destination. The impact on flights has spread across Asia, with Cathay Pacific Airways canceling some services to the Middle East until March 5. In India, IndiGo suspensions were extended until Tuesday.
In Europe, shares of major airlines have tumbled amid concerns that the conflict will discourage travel just as the sector approaches the crucial summer period. Lufthansa fell by up to 11%, IAG SA, the parent company of British Airways, fell by up to 13%, and Air France-KLM fell by 10% in the first hours of trading in Europe.
The conflict is also causing a jump in oil prices, which in turn increases the cost of fuel for airlines, their biggest expense. And airspace closures mean many aircraft will need to fly longer routes, again raising operating costs.
US President Donald Trump said the bombing campaign against Iran will continue until its goals are achieved, further sending airline stocks lower as investors assess the impact of canceled flights, airspace closures and long travel disruptions.
Cathay fell as much as 7% at the opening in Hong Kong, while Singapore Airlines fell by up to 7.5%. Qantas Airways lost up to 10%.
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The UAE’s civil aviation authority said it had served more than 20,000 passengers affected by the disruption. Tens of thousands of people were trapped in a region that functions as a global “superconnector”, connecting practically any two points on the planet with just one connection.
Several airports in the Gulf were caught in the crossfire as Iran launched missiles and drones across the region in response to the initial attack on Saturday by Israeli and US air forces.
Abu Dhabi airport said one person died and several were injured overnight after the emirate intercepted an Iranian drone. Dubai’s main airport, the world’s busiest international hub, reported damage to a terminal that left four employees injured.
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Bahrain’s main airport was targeted by a drone overnight, which caused damage. Kuwait’s airport was also hit by a drone, and several employees suffered minor injuries.
While the Persian Gulf is no stranger to disruptions — airspace over large swaths of the Middle East has been restricted several times over the past two years — a total suspension on such a broad scale is unprecedented. The situation highlights the size of the stakes in the conflict that pits Iran against Israel and the USA and that has destabilized this energy-rich region.
The extensive suspension of all air services will severely disrupt the finely tuned choreography of aircraft movements around the world. Many planes and crews are already out of position because of airspace closures, meaning it will likely take days to clear the backlog of flights even after operations resume.
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Elsewhere, India’s civil aviation authority said local airlines canceled 410 flights on Saturday and 444 were expected to be canceled on Sunday. Airlines around the world, from Canada to Europe to Singapore, said they have suspended services to the Middle East.
Emirates, Qatar Airways and Etihad have spent decades building massive fleets that funnel passengers through their hubs, turning the Middle East into a vital artery for global air traffic flows. Airlines have become one of the main drivers of growth in the Gulf, as they are no longer just facilitators of connections but also attract business and tourism to the region.
© 2026 Bloomberg L.P.
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