Strikes on Iran prompt widespread flight cancellations across Middle East

Members of the travel trade were supporting customers on Saturday after flights in and to the Middle East were postponed or cancelled following the launch of a US and Israeli assault on Iran and retaliatory strikes across the region.

 

Airlines serving the region from the UK including British Airways, Emirates, Etihad, Qatar Airways and Virgin Atlantic reported cancellations on Saturday.

The Foreign Office also updated its advice for four Gulf states, urging British nationals to shelter in place in Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

 

British Airways cancelled flights to Tel Aviv and Bahrain until March 3 and also cancelled a flight to Amman in Jordan. Emirates temporarily suspended services to and from Dubai, while Etihad said flights from Abu Dhabi were suspended until 2pm on Sunday.

 

Qatar Airways said it had temporarily suspended flights to and from Doha due to the closure of Qatari airspace.

 

The airline added it was “working closely with government stakeholders and the relevant authorities to support impacted passengers and will resume operations when the airspace re-opens”.

 

Virgin Atlantic said re-routing of flights would occur due to the avoidance of Iraqi airspace and confirmed the cancellation of its Heathrow-Dubai service on Saturday.

 

The widespread travel disruption came after US president Donald Trump said "major combat operations" were ongoing after voicing dissatisfaction this week over the progress of negotiations around Iran’s nuclear programme.

 

President Trump called for Iranian forces to lay down their weapons and for the Iranian people to bring about regime change once the military action had concluded.

 

Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi said the country would use "all its defensive and military capabilities under legitimate right of self-defence" in response.

 

On Saturday afternoon UK time, reports were continuing of a host of retaliatory attacks across the region.

 

The government of Dubai said four people had been injured in “an incident” on the Palm Jumeirah, with the BBC running verified footage of an explosion at the entrance to the Fairmont the Palm hotel.

 

The BBC also said local media in Kuwait had reported a drone attack on Kuwait International Airport.

 

US military bases, including in Bahrain, were also targeted.

 

UK prime minister Keir Starmer urged Iran to "refrain from further strikes, give up their weapons programme and cease the appalling violence and repression against the Iranian people", adding: "This is the route back to the negotiating table."

 

Sarah Hedley Hymers, editorial director of Travel Weekly’s Dubai-based sister title Connecting Travel, said action from UAE authorities had been swift but the escalation of attacks has created a situation which seemed "unreal".

 

She said: "The authorities have a firm grip on events. Alerts were issued by embassies as soon as the strikes began and were quickly shared by communities in the UAE.

 

"Alerts advised us to shelter at home and stay away from the windows. Many residents and holidaymakers were enjoying a sunny day at the beach when the strikes first started. UAE defences intercepted the strikes, but their impact could be seen in the sky above and explosions could be heard.

 

"Many people then returned to their homes and accommodation, but others felt safe enough to stay out. Supermarkets were busy with people stocking up on goods."

 

She added: "When the attacks increased later in the day, it seemed unreal, a bit like being in a computer game as the missiles were shot down.

 

"Now, as midnight approaches, the skies appear less active. We’re following the news and waiting to see what will happen next, and we’ve packed an ’escape bag’ of essentials — money, passport, water — just in case."