IAs tensions in the Middle East persist following United States and Israeli strikes on Iran, with retaliatory missile and drone attacks affecting several Gulf cities including Riyadh and Dubai, airspace restrictions remain widespread.
Some limited reopenings have occurred in parts of the region, but intermittent closures continue due to ongoing security threats, leaving global aviation in a state of significant disruption.
Airspace over key hubs such as Abu Dhabi, Doha, and Dubai has seen partial operational recovery in recent days. Emirates has maintained a reduced schedule from Dubai to numerous destinations, while Etihad has operated limited flights from Abu Dhabi to around seventy locations through mid-March.
Qatar Airways continues to run a temporary programme of relief and repatriation flights from Doha until at least 12 March, utilising designated contingency corridors with military support, though full commercial resumption remains pending clearance from the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority. These services prioritise stranded passengers with confirmed bookings, but transit traffic is heavily restricted, and airlines urge travellers not to head to airports without verified seats.
The number of countries affected by full or partial airspace closures now stands at around eight to ten, depending on definitions of restriction levels. Fully closed or severely limited airspaces include Iran (with few exceptions until mid-March), Iraq (total closure until at least 13 March), Israel (closed with prior permission required until 16 March), Bahrain (total closure until late 12 March), Kuwait, Syria, and Qatar (heavily restricted, though partial relief operations proceed).
The United Arab Emirates maintains limited access through controlled corridors, while Jordan and Saudi Arabia operate with partial restrictions or affected border zones. Azerbaijan has joined the list of impacted nations, with its southern sector (near the Iranian border) closed following drone incidents affecting Nakhchivan airport, though northern overflight routes remain available for rerouting traffic.
Reopening prospects appear cautious and gradual. Some areas, particularly in the United Arab Emirates and parts of Saudi Arabia, have allowed intermittent operations, but fresh missile activity has prompted rolling closures. Authorities emphasise that any broader resumption depends on de-escalation and security assessments, with no firm timelines beyond short-term extensions of current notices. The central corridor through Iran and Iraq remains effectively shut, forcing carriers to use longer northern routes via the Caucasus (including Azerbaijan) or southern paths via Egypt, Oman, and Saudi Arabia, adding hours to journeys and increasing fuel costs substantially.
Repatriation efforts have intensified, with governments and airlines coordinating special flights to bring home tens of thousands of citizens. Qatar Airways has scheduled departures from Doha to cities such as London, Frankfurt, Madrid, New York, and Beijing on 12 March, while Emirates and Etihad support similar operations from their hubs. Difficulties persist, however, including sudden diversions due to missile alerts, limited aircraft repositioning, GPS interference risks, and bottlenecks at staging points like Muscat in Oman.
Stranded passengers face challenges securing seats amid high demand, with some airlines prioritising vulnerable groups or existing ticket holders. Logistical hurdles, such as crew fatigue from extended reroutes and uncertain alternates, compound the situation, and experts warn that full normalisation could take weeks even if hostilities ease.
Emifrates continue to serve Dubiin with one flight in each direction every day. Dublin airport cancellations today:
| Flights | Etihad | Qatar | Emirates |
| 28-Feb | 90 | 216 | 224 |
| 1-Mar | 4 | 3 | 24 |
| 2-Mar | 37 | 2 | 29 |
| 3-Mar | 28 | 5 | 70 |
| 4-Mar | 22 | 9 | 136 |
| 5-Mar | 31 | 14 | 214 |
| 6-Mar | 31 | 18 | 261 |
| 7-Mar | 43 | 34 | 252 |
| 8-Mar | 33 | 21 | 284 |
| 9-Mar | 61 | 42 | 326 |
| 10-Mar | 56 | 66 | 309 |
| 11-Mar | 53 | 72 | 303 |
