As of March 1, 2026, the situation in the Middle East has escalated dramatically following the death of Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, amid ongoing US and Israeli airstrikes. Iran's indefinite closure of its airspace has led to a significant aviation crisis, with major hubs in the Gulf suspending operations. Reports indicate that approximately 19,000 flights have been delayed, marking a severe disruption to global air transport. Major airlines, including Emirates, Etihad, and Air India, have announced widespread cancellations, with Air India alone canceling 50 international flights due to the crisis. This has left thousands of passengers stranded at key transit airports like Dubai International Airport and Doha International Airport, as well as at Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport, where 37 flights to destinations such as Abu Dhabi and Riyadh were canceled.
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Iran Airspace Closure Causes Flight Cancellations Across Gulf Airports
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As of March 1, 2026, the Middle East faces a major aviation crisis due to Iran's airspace closure after Khamenei's death, causing 19,000 flight delays and widespread cancellations by major airlines.
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