Air travel across the Middle East has faced major disruption as regional tensions continue to affect flight operations. Six major airlines, including Emirates, Qatar Airways, Etihad Airways, Air Arabia, Flydubai, and Kuwait Airways, have cancelled almost 23,810 flights between March 1 and March 10.
The disruptions are linked to the ongoing tensions involving Iran, Israel, and the United States, which have raised security concerns across the region. Airspace restrictions and safety warnings forced airlines to suspend many scheduled flights.
Reports indicate that only around 50 special flights were able to operate during this period. As a result, hundreds of thousands of passengers have been stranded at airports across the Middle East and South Asia.
Pakistan has also been affected, especially during the busy Umrah and Eid travel season. Around 100 daily flights from major cities including Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi, and Multan have reportedly been grounded.
Airlines are facing large financial losses, while travel agencies are dealing with refund requests and cancelled bookings. Aviation experts say government support or emergency measures may be required if disruptions continue for a longer period.
