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Latest Travel Updates Across Middle East – 13 March

CATEGORY : Travel News
PUBLISHED DATE : 05.03.2026
READ TIME : 3MIN
Latest Travel Updates Across Middle East – 13 March
Latest Travel Updates – Middle East Crisis

The current Middle East crisis has led to one of the most significant travel disruptions in recent months, with direct ripple effects across Europe and the Eastern Mediterranean leading to flight suspensions, rerouting, and cruise itinerary changes. Travelers planning trips through mid-March should expect possible delays, cancellations, and last-minute changes.

Here’s a clear overview of the latest travel news you need to know.

✈️ Large-Scale Flight Suspensions 

GULF AND REGIONAL AIRLINES

Emirates

Following the partial reopening of regional airspace, Emirates has resumed operations with a reduced flight schedule.

Current operations (15–28 March 2026)

The flight schedule is currently available for 15–28 March 2026.

Flights are available and bookable through all Emirates sales channels.

Passengers transiting through Dubai will only be accepted if their onward connecting flight is operating.

Customers eligible for Dubai Connect may receive hotel accommodation during their transit in Dubai.

Online check-in opens 48 hours before departure.

Passengers are strongly advised to check their flight status and email notifications before travelling to the airport, in case of any changes or cancellations.

Important information for travelers

Given the current situation, flight schedules remain dynamic and may change. We recommend staying updated and monitoring your booking regularly.

Etihad Airways

Etihad Airways is operating a reduced schedule to around 70 destinations until 19 March. Passengers with tickets issued before 28 February for travel until 10 March can change flights without rebooking fees for departures up to 31 March.

Qatar Airways

Qatar Airways is operating a limited schedule.

Limited flights from Doha (DOH)

13 March
Perth, Seoul, Dhaka, Jeddah, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Kochi, Algiers, Miami, Istanbul, Cairo, Amsterdam, London Heathrow, Milan, Paris, Muscat

14 March
Riyadh, Muscat, Manila, Johannesburg, Dallas, Toronto, Colombo, Cairo, Islamabad, Mumbai, London Heathrow, Rome, Madrid, Frankfurt, Tunis, Moscow, Delhi, Bali Denpasar

15 March
Istanbul, Dhaka, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Delhi, Algiers, Melbourne, New York JFK, Jeddah, Cairo, Madrid, Hong Kong, London Heathrow, Casablanca, Paris, Islamabad

16 March
Perth, Muscat, Seoul, Bangkok, Beijing, Dhaka, Kochi, Jakarta, Mumbai, Cairo, Miami, Amsterdam, London Heathrow, Colombo, Frankfurt, Delhi

Limited flights to Doha (DOH)

13 March
Amsterdam, London Heathrow, Milan, Paris, Mumbai, Delhi, Islamabad, Colombo, New York JFK, São Paulo, Beijing, Manila, Jakarta, Cairo

14 March
Perth, Seoul, Dhaka, Jeddah, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Kochi, Algiers, Miami, Istanbul, Cairo, Johannesburg, London Heathrow, Madrid, Frankfurt, Moscow, Dallas

15 March
Tunis, Muscat, Manila, Dallas, Toronto, Colombo, Cairo, Islamabad, Mumbai, Rome, Madrid, London Heathrow, Casablanca, Paris, Delhi, Bali Denpasar, Perth

16 March
Istanbul, Dhaka, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Delhi, Algiers, New York JFK, Jeddah, Hong Kong, Amsterdam, London Heathrow, Frankfurt, Islamabad, Cairo

17 March
Perth, Muscat, Seoul, Bangkok, Beijing, Dhaka, Kochi, Jakarta, Mumbai, Cairo, Miami, Colombo, Amsterdam, London Heathrow, Frankfurt

Please note:

These flights are limited services and do not indicate the full resumption of scheduled operations.

Some flights are for passengers whose final destination is Doha only.

Do not go to the airport unless you have a confirmed ticket for travel.

In addition, Qatar Airways may operate selected direct point-to-point flights to help passengers continue their journeys. Eligible travelers will be contacted directly by the airline.

Flexible travel options

Passengers with confirmed bookings for travel between 28 February and 22 March 2026 are eligible for:

One complimentary date change to a new travel date up to 30 April 2026 on Qatar Airways operated flights, or

A refund of the unused ticket value

Flydubai

Flydubai is operating a reduced schedule including repatriation flights. Passengers travelling between 28 February and 31 March can rebook their flights within 30 days without penalty.

Oman Air

Oman Air has suspended flights between 9–15 March to several regional destinations including Amman, Dubai, Bahrain, Doha, Dammam, Kuwait, Copenhagen, Baghdad and Khasab due to ongoing airspace restrictions. The airline continues to operate from Muscat and will run additional flights between 11–15 March to support increased travel demand, including services to London Heathrow, Istanbul, Cairo, Rome, Frankfurt, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Munich, Amsterdam, Paris and Milan. Most long-haul flights remain operational.

Air Arabia

Air Arabia is operating limited UAE flights until 22 March. Affected passengers can rebook their flights or request refunds.

Gulf Air

Gulf Air flight operations remain temporarily suspended while Bahraini airspace remains closed.

INTERNATIONAL AIRLINES

Lufthansa Group (including Lufthansa, Austrian Airlines, Swiss and Brussels Airlines)

Lufthansa has suspended flights to Amman, Erbil, Dammam, Dubai and Abu Dhabi until 15 March. Flights to Beirut are suspended until 28 March, Tehran until 30 April and Tel Aviv until 2 April. Flights to Riyadh and Jeddah continue to operate.

British Airways

British Airways is offering free date changes for flights between London Heathrow and Abu Dhabi, Amman, Bahrain, Doha, Dubai and Tel Aviv through 15 March, with travel allowed until 29 March. Flights to Abu Dhabi remain suspended for a longer period.

Virgin Atlantic

Virgin Atlantic has cancelled its London–Dubai route for the rest of the winter schedule and paused Riyadh flights for two weeks pending review.

KLM

KLM is avoiding airspace over Iran, Iraq, Israel and parts of the Gulf. Flights to Dammam, Dubai and Riyadh were suspended until 10 March, while Dubai flights are cancelled until 28 March. Tel Aviv flights are suspended for the rest of the winter season.

Air Canada

Air Canada has cancelled flights to Dubai until 28 March and suspended flights to Tel Aviv until 2 May. Flexible changes are available for affected Middle East routes.

Aegean Airlines

Flights to Tel Aviv are cancelled until 20 March. Flights to Beirut, Erbil and Baghdad are cancelled until 25 March. Flights to Dubai and Abu Dhabi are cancelled until 19 March, while flights to Riyadh are cancelled until 14 March.

airBaltic

All flights to and from Tel Aviv are cancelled until 28 March. Flights to and from Dubai are cancelled until 16 March, including the Dubai–Riga flight on 17 March.

Air Europa

All flights to Tel Aviv are cancelled until 20 March.

Air France

Flights to Tel Aviv and Beirut are cancelled until 13 March. Flights to Dubai and Riyadh were cancelled until 12 March.

Cathay Pacific

All flights to and from Dubai and Riyadh are cancelled until 31 March.

Delta Air Lines

Flights between New York and Tel Aviv are cancelled until 22 March, with return flights from Tel Aviv to New York cancelled until 23 March.

El Al Israel Airlines

Regular flights, including those operated by its subsidiary Sundor, are cancelled until 14 March.

Finnair

Flights to Doha and Dubai are cancelled until 29 March. The airline is also avoiding airspace over Iran, Iraq, Syria and Israel while operating occasional flights to Muscat to repatriate passengers.

ITA Airways

Flights to Tel Aviv are suspended until April. Flights to Dubai are cancelled until 15 March.

Japan Airlines

Tokyo–Doha flights are suspended from 28 February to 21 March, while Doha–Tokyo flights are suspended until 22 March.

LOT Polish Airlines

Flights to Tel Aviv and Dubai are cancelled until 28 March. Flights to Riyadh are cancelled until 16 March, while flights to Beirut are cancelled between 31 March and 30 April.

Malaysia Airlines

All flights to and from Doha are suspended until 13 March. Flights to Jeddah and Madinah resumed on 8 March.

Norwegian Air

The planned resumption of flights to Tel Aviv and Beirut has been delayed until 15 June.

Pegasus Airlines

Flights to Iran are cancelled until 28 March. Flights to Iraq, Amman, Beirut, Kuwait, Bahrain, Doha, Dammam, Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah are cancelled until 23 March.

Saudia

Flights to Moscow and Peshawar are suspended until 15 March. Limited flights to Dubai have resumed.

Turkish Airlines

Some flights to and from Bahrain, Dammam, Riyadh, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Syria and the United Arab Emirates have been cancelled.

Wizz Air

Flights to Israel are suspended until 29 March. Flights from mainland Europe to Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Amman and Jeddah are suspended until mid-September.

Important Note:

Only travel to the airport if you have a confirmed booking and check airline updates regularly as schedules remain subject to rapid change.

🇬🇷 Impact on Greece

Air travel between Greece and the Middle East continues to face disruptions as airlines adjust schedules and assist stranded passengers.

SKY express announced that, due to the suspension of Israel’s airspace, all scheduled flights between Athens (ATH) and Tel Aviv (TLV) are cancelled until Saturday, March 14.

Passengers can choose a free ticket change for a future flight, a 12-month credit voucher, or a refund by contacting the airline. For bookings scheduled until March 20, 2026, travelers may also request a free date change or voucher.

At the same time, Aegean Airlines has extended flight cancellations to several Middle East destinations due to the evolving security situation in the region.

The airline announced the following suspensions:

  • Flights to Dubai suspended until March 19
  • Flights to Tel Aviv suspended until March 20
  • Flights to Beirut, Erbil, and Baghdad suspended until March 25

Passengers affected by cancellations can request ticket changes, travel vouchers, or refunds, while the airline continues to monitor developments before restoring normal operations

🚢 Cruise Industry Disruptions

Cruise operators in the Eastern Mediterranean are reporting:

  • Itinerary modifications
  • Port cancellations
  • Adjusted sailing routes for safety reasons

Passengers are advised to contact cruise lines directly for updated schedules.

🌍 Expanded Travel Warnings

Several governments have upgraded travel advisories for parts of the Middle East amid rising regional tensions. Travelers are advised to:

  • Avoid non-essential travel to affected areas
  • Monitor official government announcements
  • Prepare for sudden schedule changes

The situation remains fluid and can change at short notice.

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