International airlines are extending their flight suspensions across large parts of the Middle East. New attacks and drone strikes in the region are once again causing disruption to airspace, just as the aviation sector was recovering from previous closures.
Since the outbreak of the war in late February, aviation in the Gulf region has been plagued by diversions, cancelled flights and airspace closures. A cautious recovery has now been followed by a fresh setback. The United States carried out a new series of attacks on Iran this week, in response to attacks on US military bases in the region. Airlines are therefore reorganising their networks on a massive scale.
Airlines extend suspensions following new attacks
The situation in the region continues to change rapidly. In addition to the US attacks on Iran, a building belonging to a Chinese company in northern Kuwait was also hit by an Iranian attack this week, killing one employee. For airlines, this is reason enough to avoid these routes for the time being and to push back resumption dates further.
Many airlines emphasise that the resumption of flights depends entirely on the local security situation. This is reassessed on a daily, and sometimes hourly, basis. Passengers and shippers must therefore be prepared for last-minute cancellations, route changes and longer flight times.
This is relevant to the logistics sector because a large proportion of global air freight passes through the Middle East. Fewer flights mean less available capacity, including in the hold of passenger aircraft. Further information on air transport can be found on the air freight page.
European airlines: Air France, KLM and British Airways adjust their schedules
Air France has extended several flight suspensions in the region. Flights to Riyadh remain suspended until 7 August, flights to Dubai will not resume until 11 August, and the route to Beirut is suspended until 18 August. The airline has stated that the resumption of flights remains subject to an assessment of the security situation on the ground.
KLM has adjusted its flight schedule in the Middle East and continues to avoid the airspace of Iran, Iraq and Israel, as well as parts of the Arabian Gulf. Flights to and from Riyadh, Dammam and Dubai have been suspended until 6 September. The airline is not yet able to resume its regular schedule in the region and is adjusting flights based on operational conditions.
British Airways is postponing its phased return to the Middle East. Flights to Dubai, Tel Aviv, Bahrain and Amman remain suspended until 25 October. In addition, the airline is reducing frequencies: from 1 August, there will be just one daily flight to Doha, and from 8 August, one daily flight to Riyadh as well. The route to Jeddah has been permanently cancelled.
Asian and North American airlines are staying away for longer
Outside Europe, too, airlines are keeping their distance from the Gulf region for longer. Singapore Airlines was due to resume flights to Dubai on 2 August, but has extended that suspension until 24 October. Its budget subsidiary, Scoot, is cancelling the Singapore–Jeddah route until 8 August. Cathay Pacific will not resume flights to Dubai and Riyadh until 24 and 25 October respectively, whilst Philippine Airlines is suspending the Manila–Dubai route until 2 October.
Air Canada is extending the suspension of flights to Tel Aviv and Dubai until 24 October. Kazakhstan’s Air Astana will not be flying from Almaty and Astana to Dubai until 31 August, explicitly citing the deteriorating situation in the Strait of Hormuz and the wider Gulf region.
Finnair is keeping the Helsinki–Dubai route closed until 24 October and is even cancelling flights to Doha for the entire winter season for commercial reasons. Passengers with bookings between 3 October and 27 March 2027 are largely being rebooked onto Qatar Airways flights. Turkish Airlines has now resumed flights to Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Damascus, Beirut and Amman, but is keeping flights to Iran suspended and has warned of further cancellations.
Impact on air freight and available capacity
The extended suspensions are affecting not only passengers but also the cargo market. Major hubs such as Dubai and Doha are key transit points between Europe and Asia. When airlines cancel routes or reroute via longer routes, costs rise and the available capacity for cargo falls.
Longer routes also mean higher fuel consumption and increased operational costs. These costs may be passed on in air freight rates and surcharges, particularly on routes between Europe, the Gulf and Asia. For time-critical shipments, speed remains important, but planning and flexibility are becoming even more crucial than before.
Shippers with urgent goods would be well advised to book early and consider alternative routes. Want to know more about fast options and cost calculations? Then take a look at the pages on express shipments and chargeable weight.
Sea freight is also feeling the strain in the Gulf region
Air Astana’s reference to the Strait of Hormuz shows that the unrest extends beyond the aviation sector alone. This strait is one of the most important transit points for global shipping and energy flows. Tensions in this area are having an impact on shipping routes, insurance and transit times.
If the threat persists, shipping lines are more likely to opt for alternative routes, leading to longer transit times and pressure on capacity. Major container shipping lines had already adjusted their networks earlier due to the violence of war on key shipping routes. Importers who rely on goods from Asia and the Middle East are feeling the impact on their planning and costs.
For many companies, a combination of transport modes is therefore an attractive option: sea freight for volume, air freight for urgency. Read more about sea freight and importing.
What does this mean for importers and exporters?
For importers and exporters, the suspension of airline services primarily means uncertainty. Resumption dates are regularly being pushed back, capacity is limited and rates can fluctuate rapidly. Anyone planning shipments via or to the Middle East must allow for longer lead times and possible re-routing.
Good preparation makes all the difference. Request rates in good time, compare multiple routes and transport modes, and clearly set out agreements on delivery terms. Digital visibility also helps: companies that track disruptions, bookings and shipments online in real time can adapt more quickly. Anyone wishing to improve their own digital processes, website or online visibility can turn to specialists in AI, SEO and web development such as HEF Digital.
TOP closely monitors developments regarding airlines, airspace closures, capacity and rates in the Middle East. For our clients, we seek the best balance between speed, cost and reliability for every shipment. Read more about requesting rates and Incoterms.
…the Middle East accounts for over 13 per cent of the global air freight market? When airlines in this region cancel flights, shippers feel the immediate impact globally in terms of capacity, routes and rates.
