Global flight cancellations amid Middle East tensions.
Heightened tensions in the Middle East are causing significant disruptions to global air travel, leaving passengers stranded and airlines scrambling to adjust schedules. Following a joint military operation by the U.S. and Israel against Iran, several airlines have announced flight cancellations and are issuing travel waivers to mitigate the impact on travelers.
Emirates, a major international carrier, has temporarily suspended all operations to and from Dubai. According to their statement, a limited number of flights will resume on Monday, prioritizing passengers with existing bookings.
Etihad Airways has also suspended scheduled commercial flights to and from Abu Dhabi until 2 p.m. UAE time on March 4. The airline indicated that some repositioning, cargo, and repatriation flights may still operate, subject to approval from UAE authorities and adherence to stringent safety protocols.
Both Emirates and Etihad are advising passengers to refrain from heading to the airport unless they have received direct confirmation from the airline regarding their flight status.
U.S.-based airlines with routes in the Middle East are also feeling the effects of the regional instability. American Airlines has implemented travel waivers for passengers traveling to or from several Middle Eastern destinations, including Abu Dhabi, Amman, Bahrain, Doha, Dubai, and Larnaca. These waivers allow passengers to change their flights without incurring the usual change fees.
Delta Air Lines has canceled flights between New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport and Tel Aviv through March 8, with return flights from Tel Aviv canceled through March 9. Affected customers are being notified, and those scheduled to travel between February 28 and March 31 have the option to reschedule or cancel their reservations.
Delta is offering refunds for the unused portion of tickets for canceled reservations. Alternatively, passengers can receive an e-credit for future travel. The airline is waiving fare differences for rebooked travel on or before April 15, 2026, provided the new booking is in the same cabin class. For travel after this date, change fees will be waived, but fare differences may apply.
United Airlines has suspended service from the U.S. to Dubai through March 4 and to Tel Aviv through March 6. The airline has issued two waiver notices related to the Middle East unrest. Passengers who purchased tickets on or before February 27, 2026, for flights to or from Dubai or Tel Aviv with original travel dates through March 7, 2026, can reschedule without incurring change fees or fare differences.
However, the rebooked flight must be a United flight departing between February 28 and March 15, and the tickets must be for the same cabin class and between the same cities as the original booking. Change fees will be waived for customers who booked a new trip after February 27, 2027, or to a different destination, although a fare difference may apply. Travelers can also receive a full refund if they choose to cancel their trip.
The second notice covers Dubai and Tel Aviv, as well as airports in Abu Dhabi, Beirut, and Erbil. Customers who purchased tickets on or before February 28, 2026, with original travel dates between March 8 and March 31, 2026, can reschedule without change fees or fare differences, provided the new flight is a United flight departing between March 1 and March 31, 2026, and the tickets are for the same cabin class and between the same cities as originally booked.
Change fees will be waived for customers who booked a new trip after March 1, 2027, or to a different destination, although they may need to pay a fare difference.
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