Air fares between Asia and Europe have surged after major Gulf hubs, including Dubai, partially reopened following closures linked to the conflict between Israel, the U.S. and Iran. Airlines are still rerouting flights around restricted airspace, cutting economy seat supply and pushing up prices.
Many airline companies are facing longer flying times as a result of continuing airspace closure across much of the Middle East. Reports from Qatar say almost 8,000 passengers are currently stranded.
A number of airlines have suspended or cancelled their flights to and from Dubai until at least Wednesday 4th March. Some, including Air Canada and Finnair, have cancelled flights for over two weeks.
Airlines are prioritising repatriation, cargo, and repositioning flights, with services scheduled to destinations including London, Paris, Russia, Pakistan, and Somaliland.
Due to the ongoing conflict, airspace over Qatar is closed meaning some airlines have cancelled or suspended their flights for the remainder of this week. Malaysia Airlines and British Airways are due to restart flights tomorrow (Wednesday 4th March) and Thursday 5th March.
Delays and cancellations are occuring at Zayed International Airport, however airlines are hopeful there won't be disruption into next week. Eithad Airways are doing limited evacuation flights for stranded passengers.
Flights to the Middle East from Istanbul are heavily distrupted with Turkish Airlines and Pegasus both cancelling flights to Iraq, Jordan and Lebanon for at least the next 3 days. Istanbul remains a primary diversion point for flights connecting Europe and East Asia.
Travel stocks plunged on Monday, wiping $22.6 billion off the value of major airlines, hotels and travel companies, as escalating tensions between the U.S., Israel and Iran wreaked havoc on global aviation.
Key Middle Eastern hubs, including Dubai - usually the world’s busiest international airport with more than 1,000 daily flights - remained closed for a third consecutive day, leaving tens of thousands of passengers stranded.
Jordan partially closed its airspace, while the U.S. State Department urged Americans to leave more than a dozen countries in the region, including Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
Oil prices surged by up to 13% to levels not seen since January 2025, raising concerns over higher fuel costs for airlines.
European carriers were hit hard, with TUI down 9.9%, Lufthansa 5.2% and British Airways owner IAG 5.5%, while U.S. airlines such as Delta, United and American saw shares fall between 2% and 4%.
Analysts warned of weeks of disruption, citing flight cancellations, rerouting costs and rising fuel prices, with some projecting historic oil supply interruptions if tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains limited.
Iran warned U.S. forces on Monday not to enter the Strait of Hormuz after President Donald Trump said the United S...
European leaders are meeting in Yerevan on Monday (4 May) for the eighth gathering of the European Political Co...
Talks between the U.S. and Iran remain in a delicate state after U.S. President Donald Trump rejected a 14-poin...
European allies are stepping up efforts to meet military commitments following criticism from U.S. President Donald Trump, according to NATO Secret...
Minval Politika has released a third set of footage it says shows former International Criminal Court prosecutor Luis Moreno Ocampo discussing the ...
European allies are stepping up efforts to meet military commitments following criticism from U.S. President Donald Trump, according to NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.
Minval Politika has released a third set of footage it says shows former International Criminal Court prosecutor Luis Moreno Ocampo discussing the use of artificial intelligence in a project linked to Armenia and ‘Nagorno-Karabakh’.
Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for the 4th of May, covering the latest developments you need to know.
A tanker reported being hit by unknown projectiles in the Strait of Hormuz, a maritime security organisation said on Monday, shortly after President Donald Trump said the U.S. would start helping free ships stranded in the Gulf by the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran.
Ukraine is monitoring “unusual activity” along its border with Belarus, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a video statement released on Saturday (2 May). He warned that Kyiv is ready to respond if necessary amid continued regional tensions linked to Russia’s war.
Hundreds of young people in South Korea have gathered in Seoul to take part in a city-backed “power nap contest”, aimed at drawing attention to the country’s chronic sleep deprivation.
Türkiye’s Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz is set to visit Armenia in early May to take part in the 8th European Political Community Summit, in what will be the highest-level Turkish visit to the country to date. Meanwhile, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is reportedly expected to miss the forum.
China has moved to block U.S. sanctions on five of its oil refineries, in a fresh escalation of tensions over trade and energy policy.
U.S. President Donald Trump has said he will “soon be reviewing” a new 14-point proposal sent by Iran, casting doubt on the chances of a deal after Tehran called for security guarantees, an end to naval blockades and a halt to the war across the region, including in Lebanon.
Dubai chef Shaw Lash at Mexican restaurant Lila Molino flies in her avocados and tomatillos, small, tart green fruits native to Central America that are a staple of Mexican cuisine and key for her colourful and spicy dishes.
Dubai has restricted foreign airlines to one daily flight to its airports until 31 May due to the Iran crisis, raising fears of significant revenue losses for Indian carriers, industry letters show.
Flag carrier Vietnam Airlines plans to cancel 23 flights per week across several domestic routes from April because of looming jet fuel shortages, Vietnam's aviation authority said.
The pilot and co-pilot of an Air Canada Express regional jet were killed after it collided with a fire truck while landing at New York's LaGuardia airport late on Sunday, in an incident that closed the airport, authorities and U.S. media said.
The ongoing conflict involving Iran is set to disrupt global travel on a massive scale, with nearly 28 million outbound trips from the Middle East at risk this year, according to Oxford Economics.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment