Thousands of Middle East flights cancelled in worst travel chaos since pandemic
Dubai to allow some flights on Monday evening. Germany, UK, planning evacuation flights from the Gulf
Updated Monday 3.15pm with Dubai announcement that it plans to restore some flight services.
Hundreds of thousands of passengers remained stranded on Monday, with key airports in the Gulf closed amid the fallout from US-Israeli strikes on Iran.
Thousands more flights were cancelled on Monday as the turmoil in global air travel grew as missiles flew across the region.
Gulf airports and airlines have suspended all operations, although Dubai said it plans to resume 'limited' flights on Monday evening.
The three major airlines in the Gulf – Emirates, Etihad and Qatar Airways – typically have about 90,000 passengers per day crossing through those hubs and even more travellers headed to destinations in the Middle East.
Germany sending planes to Saudi, Oman, UK preparing evacuation
The German foreign ministry said on Monday that his country would send planes to Saudi, Oman to evacuate tourists.
"We will send aircraft to Riyadh and Muscat as quickly as possible for particularly vulnerable groups," Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said, adding that he was in talks with national carrier Lufthansa to arrange the flights.
The UK was also reportedly planning evacuation flights.
Airline and travel share prices fell sharply after days of disruption, with US president Donald Trump indicating that the US military action could last another four weeks.
Major Middle Eastern airports, including Dubai – the world’s second busiest airport – closed for a third consecutive day amid the most acute aviation shock since the Covid pandemic paralysed the industry.
Cancellations most affected the Gulf carriers, all three of which now connect passengers worldwide via their hubs.
Emirates' flights to and from Malta have been cancelled.
Dozens of Maltese nationals living in the Gulf have contacted the authorities to help them return home as airstrikes intensified after the US and Israel attacked Iran.
The unrest has also affected civilian airport facilities. Since the strikes began, one person has died and 11 others have been injured at airports in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Four of those hurt were employees working at Dubai International Airport.
Hotels in key transit cities have filled rapidly, while passengers report long waits at airports and overloaded airline helplines. Several governments have advised citizens to remain in place until commercial routes reopen.
Kathleen Brooks, research director at trading platform XTB, noted that the Middle East sees 18 percent of air freight.
This "will now be impacted and could cause some supply chain disruption," she wrote in a note.
"Airline stocks, hotels and holiday companies are all expected to see large declines in their share prices, as travel to the region remains closed."