Airlines suspend Middle East flights to Dubai, Riyadh and Beirut amid renewed US-Iran conflict

Airlines have suspended or postponed flights to key Middle Eastern destinations including Dubai, Riyadh and Beirut as tensions between the United States and Iran escalate. The US military launched its 10th consecutive night of airstrikes targeting Iranian military sites on Monday, citing the need to protect commercial vessels passing through the strategic Strait of Hormuz. This comes as the aviation industry grapples with renewed disruptions following earlier widespread flight cancellations that occurred during the initial phase of the Iran war, which began on February 28. While some carriers had begun restoring services, the recent military actions have prompted airlines to reassess their operations in the region. Air France, which had planned to restart its Middle East services on July 20, has pushed back its resumption to July 27 for flights to Dubai. Flights to Riyadh are still suspended until July 24, while flights to Beirut remain halted until August 2. The airline stated that its decision depends on ongoing assessments of local security conditions. Singapore Airlines has extended its suspension of flights to Dubai until October 24, pushing back its previously announced resumption date of August 2. The airline warned that further changes could affect other routes and offered customers options for refunds or rebooking on alternate flights. Scoot, the low-cost subsidiary of Singapore Airlines, has suspended its Singapore-Jeddah flights until August 8. Customers impacted by these cancellations can opt for refunds or rebook on available alternatives, according to the airline’s statement. Turkish Airlines has resumed flights to several Middle Eastern cities, including Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Damascus, Beirut and Amman, as part of efforts to gradually restore services. However, flights to Iran remain suspended, and the airline warned of potential further disruptions due to the ongoing crisis. Philippine Airlines has restarted flights from Manila to Doha but continues to suspend services to Dubai until October 2. The airline emphasized its commitment to monitoring developments and restoring full service when conditions permit. KLM has suspended all flights to and from Riyadh, Dammam and Dubai until August 23. The airline avoids operating through the airspace of Iran, Iraq and Israel, as well as certain areas in the Arabian Gulf. Passengers affected by cancellations can either rebook their trips or request refunds based on their ticket terms. British Airways has delayed its return to the Middle East, originally slated for July 1. Flights to Dubai, Tel Aviv, Bahrain and Amman are now suspended until October 25. The airline is also adjusting frequencies on other regional routes, reducing services to Doha to once daily starting August 1 and cutting flights to Riyadh to one daily from August 8. Flights to Jeddah have been permanently suspended. Air Canada has extended the suspension of its flights to Tel Aviv and Dubai until October 24. Passengers affected by these cancellations are advised to check for updates or consider alternative travel arrangements.