More airlines are restoring flights across the Middle East following the conflict triggered by US and Israeli strikes on Iran, but major carriers remain cautious, with many routes still suspended through the autumn, according to a Reuters factbox published Tuesday, September 8.

The Scale of the Original Disruption

Passenger and cargo networks across the Middle East were thrown into disarray after the US and Israeli strikes on Iran at the end of February 2026 triggered widespread airspace closures over Iran, Iraq, the Gulf, and parts of the Levant. Published assessments estimate that more than 50,000 flights were cancelled or heavily rerouted in the war's early weeks, severing key east-west air corridors that had underpinned the region's status as a global aviation transit hub.

Where Things Stand Now

Airlines have gradually restored services across much of the Middle East since a ceasefire framework was agreed in mid-June, but disruption persists on several key routes. Dubai remains one of the most affected destinations, with a number of European and Asian carriers extending their suspensions into October and beyond.

Which Airlines Are Still Cautious

Several major carriers continue maintaining significant route suspensions: Lufthansa Group remains among the most cautious operators, with multiple routes — including Dubai and Beirut — suspended through late October. British Airways, Singapore Airlines, Air Canada, and Wizz Air have all similarly extended suspensions on a range of Middle East routes. Specific timelines vary by carrier:

  • Wizz Air: Dubai and Abu Dhabi services from mainland Europe suspended until October 24; Amman flights suspended until September 21.
  • Air Canada: Tel Aviv and Dubai services remain cancelled until mid-January 2027.
  • KLM: Flights to Dubai, Riyadh, and Dammam suspended until October 24, though the airline resumed flights to Tel Aviv on August 25.
  • Finnair: Dubai flights, normally operated during the winter season, suspended until March 27, 2027.
  • Air France: Beirut flights suspended until September 24, with services to other Middle East destinations gradually resuming in the meantime.

Which Airlines Are Moving Toward Broader Resumption

Not every carrier is holding back. Air France is moving toward a broader resumption of services across the region overall, even as its Beirut route remains temporarily paused. Earlier in the recovery process, Cathay Pacific resumed Dubai and Riyadh services starting September 1, while Turkish Airlines and its subsidiary SunExpress have been gradually restoring routes to Dubai and Beirut.

Iran's Own Aviation Sector Rebuilding

Iran resumed commercial flights from Tehran's main international gateway on April 25, following a 56-day shutdown triggered by the conflict, with Iran Air and other domestic carriers gradually working to rebuild their networks in the months since.

The Industry's Broader Financial Toll

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has cited the Iran war as a key factor behind a downgraded 2026 profit forecast for the global aviation sector, noting that the Middle East's transit-heavy business model leaves it particularly exposed to sudden shifts in regional security conditions. That structural vulnerability underscores why the region's aviation recovery has proven so much slower and more uneven than a typical post-crisis rebound.

A Central Paradox for the Region

Industry outlooks published over the summer point to a defining tension for Middle East aviation going forward: the region remains one of the most strategically important hubs in global aviation, connecting east-west traffic in ways few other regions can replicate — yet its aviation role is now tied more closely than ever to ongoing geopolitical risk, a dynamic that shows little sign of resolving even as individual routes gradually reopen.

How Airlines Are Planning Around Continued Uncertainty

Rather than committing to full, confident restoration timelines, carriers are building their schedules in rolling increments — often announcing restart dates a month or two in advance while explicitly preserving flexibility to adjust if the conflict flares up again or regulators tighten overflight restrictions. That cautious, incremental approach reflects an aviation industry that has effectively accepted a "new normal" of managed but persistent disruption across the region, rather than betting on a swift, complete return to pre-war operating conditions.

What's Next

With Dubai and several other key hubs still facing extended route suspensions into October and beyond, and airlines continuing to plan defensively around the possibility of renewed conflict, the Middle East's aviation recovery looks set to remain gradual and uneven for the foreseeable future. For the full, continuously updated route-by-route breakdown, see the full Reuters factbox.