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World · 1 March 2026

1000+ flights cancelled as Middle East airspace closes after strikes

1000+ flights cancelled as Middle East airspace closes after strikes

Photo by Saj Shafique on Unsplash

Hundreds of thousands of travellers are stranded or diverted due to Middle East airspace closures. Major transit hubs in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha, and airspaces over Iran, Iraq, Qatar, UAE, Israel, Syria, Kuwait, and Bahrain, are shut. Over 1000 flights by leading Middle Eastern carriers were cancelled, with dozens more diverted, following US-Israeli strikes. Some closures are expected until Monday morning.

Reported by Guardian · How we write briefs

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Why are flights cancelled? What to do if your flight is cancelled Why does the Middle East matter?

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