Airlines have continued to cancel and divert flights across the Middle East after the United States and Israel launched strikes against Iran, triggering retaliatory attacks across the region.
Flights in and out of major hubs, including Tel Aviv, Dubai and Doha have been suspended, while large areas of regional airspace remain closed.
The UK government has warned British nationals against all travel to Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories, and against all but essential travel to Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Those already in affected countries have been advised to shelter in place.
Airspace closures and diversions
Airspace over Iran, Israel, Iraq, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and Syria remained closed on Sunday, with partial restrictions in the UAE and Saudi Arabia. Jordanian and Lebanese airspace remains open but with limited flight activity.
Tracking data shows long-haul services between Europe and Asia diverting via Saudi Arabia or the Caucasus to avoid restricted zones.
Heathrow Airport has urged passengers to check directly with their airlines before travelling, warning of knock-on disruption to global long-haul routes.
Airline suspensions
Emirates said it had suspended operations in and out of Dubai until 15:00 local time (13:00 GMT) on Monday due to airspace closures.
Etihad Airways halted departures from Abu Dhabi until 02:00 local time.
British Airways cancelled services to Tel Aviv and Bahrain until Wednesday and warned that flights between Heathrow and Abu Dhabi, Amman, Bahrain, Doha, Dubai and Tel Aviv could be disrupted for several days.
Virgin Atlantic suspended services between London and Riyadh and Dubai over the weekend, adding that flights to India, Saudi Arabia and the Maldives may take longer as aircraft are rerouted.
Qatar Airways said its operations remained temporarily suspended due to the closure of Qatari airspace, with a further update expected on Monday morning.
Casualties and regional strikes
Airport authorities in Dubai and Abu Dhabi reported one fatality and 11 injuries since the strikes began. Four of those hurt were members of staff at Dubai International Airport.
Qatar’s defence ministry said it had intercepted Iranian missiles after explosions were heard in Doha. The UAE said it had also intercepted missiles and drones, while Kuwait reported being targeted. Explosions were heard at Erbil airport in Iraq early on Sunday.
UK evacuation planning
British officials are understood to be drawing up contingency plans to evacuate UK nationals from parts of the Middle East, although timings remain unclear given widespread airspace closures.
More than 76,000 British nationals have registered their presence with the Foreign Office, most of them in the UAE.
In Oman, the Foreign Office has advised those in Duqm to shelter in place and those in Salalah to leave if commercial options allow. UK nationals in Saudi Arabia have been told to remain indoors in a secure location.
Travellers elsewhere in the region — including Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq, Syria, Yemen and Turkey — have been urged to remain vigilant and follow local authority guidance.
With much of the region’s airspace either closed or restricted, aviation analysts warn that disruption to long-haul routes between Europe, Asia and Australasia could persist if tensions escalate further.
