Airlines Adjust Middle East Schedules Amidst Ongoing Conflict

Airlines Adjust Middle East Schedules Amidst Ongoing Conflict

May 15, 2026 — Numerous airlines have announced significant adjustments to their flight schedules to and from the Middle East, effective yesterday, May 14, 2026. These changes, primarily suspensions and re-routings, are a direct response to the escalating regional conflict, impacting passengers and cargo operations alike.

Carriers such as Lufthansa, SWISS, Austrian Airlines, and Brussels Airlines have suspended flights to multiple destinations including Abu Dhabi, Amman, Beirut, Dammam, Riyadh, Erbil, Muscat, and Tehran until October 24, according to a Reuters report. This widespread disruption highlights the cautious approach taken by international airlines to ensure passenger safety and operational stability.

Flight Suspensions and Resumptions

The impact of the conflict is evident across a broad spectrum of airlines. Aegean Airlines, for instance, plans to resume flights to Tel Aviv from Heraklion, Rhodes, and Larnaca on May 21, while flights from Thessaloniki to Tel Aviv remain canceled until June 26. The airline also recommenced flights to Beirut on May 12 and will restart services to Riyadh and Amman on May 21. Conversely, flights to Dubai are canceled until June 29, and services to Erbil and Baghdad are suspended until July 2.

Aeroflot has indicated a resumption of flights to the United Arab Emirates from June 1. AirBaltic has canceled its Tel Aviv flights until June 28 and Dubai flights until October 24. Air Canada has extended cancellations to Tel Aviv and Dubai until September 7, and Spain’s Air Europa has suspended Tel Aviv flights through May 31.

Air France-KLM has enacted multiple suspensions, with Air France halting services to Tel Aviv, Beirut, and Dubai until May 27, and to Riyadh until May 19. KLM has suspended flights to Riyadh, Dammam, and Dubai until June 28. Cathay Pacific has also suspended flights to Dubai and Riyadh until June 30, with cargo services to these destinations suspended until May 31.

Long-Term Service Adjustments

Some airlines are implementing longer-term changes. Delta Air Lines has extended the suspension of its Atlanta-Tel Aviv route through November 30, with a planned resumption of New York-JFK to Tel Aviv flights on September 6. The launch of its Boston-Tel Aviv route, initially planned for late October, has been delayed indefinitely.

Finnair has canceled its Doha flights until July 2 and will only restart Dubai flights in October, continuing to avoid the airspace of Iraq, Iran, Syria, and Israel. IAG-owned British Airways is reducing flights to the Middle East, permanently dropping Jeddah and cutting services to Dubai, Doha, and Tel Aviv to one daily flight from July 1. Riyadh services will be reduced from two daily flights to one from mid-May through October 24.

Other carriers, including Japan Airlines, LOT, Malaysia Airlines, Norwegian Air, Pegasus, Royal Air Maroc, Singapore Airlines, Turkish Airlines (via SunExpress), and Wizz Air, have also announced various cancellations, resumptions, and re-routes impacting destinations such as Doha, Beirut, Tel Aviv, and several cities in Saudi Arabia and the UAE.

Operational Challenges and Passenger Impact

The continuous evolution of flight schedules underscores the significant operational challenges faced by the aviation industry amidst the geopolitical instability. Airlines are prioritizing safety, leading to dynamic changes that necessitate passengers to consult their respective carriers for the most up-to-date travel information. The re-routing of flights by airlines outside the Gulf between Europe and Asia further illustrates the broad impact of the conflict on global air travel.