Officials at Dubai International Airport — the largest in the United Arab Emirates and one of the busiest in the world — said four people were injured, while Zayed International Airport in Abu Dhabi said that one person was killed and seven others were injured in a drone strike. Strikes were also reported at Kuwait International Airport.
Though Iran did not publicly claim responsibility, the scope of retaliatory strikes that Gulf nations attributed to Iran extended beyond the American bases that it previously said it would target.
“For travelers, there’s no way to sugarcoat this,” said Henry Harteveldt, an airline industry analyst and president of Atmosphere Research Group. “You should prepare for delays or cancellations for the next few days as these attacks evolve and hopefully end.”
Airlines crossing the Middle East will have to reroute flights around the conflict, with many flights heading south over Saudi Arabia, adding hours to routes and increasing fuel consumption. Ticket prices could increase if the conflict persists. The disruptions also strain air traffic control in Saudi Arabia, which may need to slow traffic to manage safety.
Retired FAA air traffic control overseer and current Embry-Riddle professor Mike McCormick stated that countries might reopen parts of their airspace once new information from U.S. and Israeli authorities clarifies the military flight operations and Iran’s missile capabilities. The duration of the disruption remains uncertain, but similar Israeli and U.S. actions in June 2025 lasted 12 days.
The situation is rapidly changing, and airlines have urged passengers to check status updates before heading to airports. Several carriers issued waivers, allowing rebookings without extra fees. Travelers in Newcastle, England, faced cancellations after a direct Emirates flight to Dubai was canceled, illustrating the widespread impact.
Many airlines have canceled flights into the region through the weekend, including India’s Air India, Turkish Airlines, Lufthansa, Air France, Transavia, Pegasus, American Airlines, and British Airways. Disrupted routes compelled travelers to consider alternative travel arrangements, highlighting the significant global impact of the regional conflict.
