Flight cancellations and airspace closures have intensified across the Middle East and beyond following U.S. airstrikes on Iran, creating ripple effects throughout the global travel network. The disruption stems from escalating tensions after President Donald Trump ordered strikes on three Iranian nuclear and military sites over the weekend, prompting an Iranian missile response targeting the U.S. Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar.

As a precaution, Qatar closed its airspace on Monday, shortly after both the U.S. and U.K. advised their citizens to shelter in place. The conflict, which began earlier this month when Israel launched surprise attacks on Iranian territory, has since spiraled, affecting regional and international air travel.

According to flight tracking platform FlightAware, global cancellations climbed to 243 as of Tuesday morning, with Dubai International Airport recording the most with 26 cancellations by 0600 GMT. Air India led carriers in total cancellations, halting 25 flights globally, many of them connected to Middle Eastern destinations.

Qatar Airways suspended all flights due to the closure of national airspace. “The airline is working closely with government stakeholders and relevant authorities to support impacted passengers and will resume operations when airspace reopens,” the carrier said, noting that delays may continue even after services resume.

Emirates Airlines announced it had suspended all flights to Iran and Iraq, including Baghdad and Basra, through June 30. While other routes continue to operate, several flights have been rerouted to avoid conflict zones.

Etihad Airways also announced regional cancellations, halting flights between Abu Dhabi and Tel Aviv until at least July 15, and suspending services to Doha, Dammam, Kuwait, and Muscat early this week.

Gulf Air, Bahrain’s flag carrier, extended its suspension of flights to Jordan through June 27, citing passenger safety as its top priority. Meanwhile, Singapore Airlines, British Airways, and Japan Airlines all cancelled multiple flights to Dubai and Doha, pointing to security assessments and precautionary measures.

Air India halted all operations to and from the region, as well as routes between India and parts of North America and Europe, redirecting aircraft away from closed airspaces. Philippine Airlines also grounded services to Doha, Dubai, and Riyadh.

Aviation experts stress that these flight disruptions are necessary. “It is the responsibility of states to ensure their airspace is safe for aircraft,” said Hassan Shahidi, President of the Flight Safety Foundation. “Qatar did the absolutely right thing by closing its airspace in the face of imminent conflict.”

Though some flights resumed in the UAE after temporary closure, uncertainty continues to cloud regional airspace. With major Gulf airports serving as global transit hubs, any prolonged disruption could have far-reaching implications.

Shahidi urged governments to prioritize aviation safety, warning against the risk of civilian casualties similar to past tragedies like the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 over Ukraine in 2014.

“Airlines, air traffic controllers, and crews are doing their best to keep everyone safe,” added Ian Petchenik of Flightradar24. “But as this conflict unfolds, passengers must stay informed through official travel advisories and remain flexible.”