Travellers stranded, airlines under pressure as Iran war escalates

Following escalating US and Israeli air strikes against Iran in early March 2026, over 20,000 flights have been cancelled, stranding tens of thousands of passengers in the Middle East. Major Gulf hubs, including Dubai, Doha, and Abu Dhabi, have been closed or severely restricted for days, disrupting travel and cargo operations. Airlines such as Emirates, flydubai, and Etihad are operating limited flights primarily to repatriate stranded passengers. Governments are urging citizens to leave the region and arranging repatriation flights amidst airspace closures and restrictions. The conflict is expected to cost the Middle East billions in tourism dollars and significantly impact global air travel routes.

Tens of thousands of people are stranded in the Middle East in March 2026 due to the ongoing Iran war. The conflict has led to the cancellation of major airline flights and the closure of airspace across the Gulf region. Those affected include tourists, religious pilgrims from Romania, and family members of diplomats. People are stuck in various locations, with some being evacuated from Israel via Egypt. Airports in places like Romania and the Philippines are experiencing disruptions as people await updates on cancelled flights.

The US State Department has urged American citizens to immediately leave most of the Middle East due to escalating conflict between the US/Israel and Iran. This warning encompasses Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, the occupied West Bank and Gaza, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, United Arab Emirates and Yemen. The US is not currently organizing evacuations, leaving citizens to depart via commercial means, though many flights are cancelled. Other countries are also responding, with France offering potential flights for at-risk citizens and the UK urging registration of its nationals in the region to provide support. Hundreds of thousands of foreign nationals are estimated to be in the Middle East, including tourists and business travelers.