Thousands of flights have been cancelled and major international airports shut across the Middle East as the outbreak of war between the United States, Israel and Iran brings aviation across the region to a near-standstill. Meanwhile, 60 Monegasque nationals have registered with the Princely Government to confirm they are currently in the region.
A wide corridor of airspace over the Middle East remained closed on Monday, with the skies over the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Israel, Bahrain and Iraq virtually empty, according to flight tracking website Flightradar24. The closure has triggered a cascade of cancellations that is being felt across the globe, with millions of passengers transiting through the region’s major hubs now stranded or facing severe disruption.
The airlines affected
The impact has fallen hardest on three of the world’s largest carriers. Emirates and Etihad, based in Dubai and Abu Dhabi respectively, suspended all flights to and from their hubs. Qatar Airways, operating from Doha’s Hamad International Airport, has also grounded services following the closure of Qatari airspace. Both Dubai International Airport and Abu Dhabi’s Zayed International Airport have sustained damage from Iranian retaliatory strikes.
The consequences extend well beyond the region. Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha are among the world’s busiest transit hubs, with tens of millions of passengers routing through them annually. German carrier Lufthansa has suspended flights to and from Dubai until 4th March and has extended suspensions on services to Tel Aviv, Beirut, Amman, Erbil, Dammam and Tehran until 8th March.
More than 20,000 travellers have been affected by cancellations since UAE airports closed on Saturday, according to reports, with the numbers continuing to rise.
What travellers should do now
Airlines are offering rebooking and refund options, though passengers are reporting significant difficulty reaching customer service teams due to high call volumes.
Emirates is allowing passengers booked to fly on or before 5th March to rebook for travel on or before 20th March, or to request a full refund. Etihad is offering free rebooking onto its own operated flights up to 18th March for tickets issued on or before 28th February with travel dates up to 7th March. British Airways is allowing passengers on affected routes up to 15th March to change their flight date free of charge for travel on or before 29th March, with full refunds available for those travelling up to 8th March.
Travellers are advised to contact their airline or travel agent as soon as possible.
Government warnings
Multiple governments have issued urgent travel advisories, including the Monaco Government which, on Saturday, urged all nationals to register their presence. As of Sunday evening, 60 made their presence within the conflict region known.
The UAE has announced it will cover food and accommodation costs for stranded travellers unable to leave the country, with hotels asked to extend the stays of affected passengers. Several countries with large migrant worker populations in the region, including Thailand, are also preparing repatriation options by military or charter flight.
For Monaco residents
The Princely Government advises all Monegasque nationals in the Middle East to limit their movements, follow local security instructions and remain in protected locations. Those in the region are asked to contact the Princely Government on +377 93 15 30 15 and to register with France’s Fil d’Ariane system for real-time security updates.
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Photo credit: Tim Dennert, Unsplash