Major Gulf carriers are gradually restoring limited operations as aviation disruptions caused by the U.S.–Israel war with Iran continue to ripple across the region.
Dubai-based Emirates and Abu Dhabi’s Etihad Airways resumed partial flight schedules from the United Arab Emirates on Friday, reconnecting key global hubs despite persistent missile and drone threats across Middle Eastern airspace.
The reopening comes as tens of thousands of travellers remain stranded after widespread airspace closures forced airlines to cancel thousands of flights since the conflict began.
Repatriation Efforts Complicated by Security Risks
Efforts by governments to evacuate citizens have faced repeated disruptions.
A chartered flight operated by Air France carrying French nationals was forced to turn back due to missile activity in the region, according to French Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot.
Meanwhile, the first British government repatriation flight from Oman arrived at London’s Stansted Airport after delays caused by operational complications.
Flight-tracking data from Flightradar24 showed that traffic at Dubai International Airport normally the world’s busiest international hub had recovered slightly but remained only about 25% of normal levels.
Reduced Schedules Across Global Routes
Etihad said it would operate a limited schedule through March 19 from Abu Dhabi to roughly 70 destinations including London, Paris, Frankfurt, Delhi, New York, Toronto and Tel Aviv.
Emirates also announced a reduced network serving 82 destinations, including Sydney, Singapore and New York, while limiting transit passengers in Dubai to those whose onward flights are confirmed.
The disruption has been particularly severe for long-haul travel between Europe and Asia-Pacific.
Together, Emirates, Qatar Airways and Etihad typically carry about one-third of passengers travelling between Europe and Asia and more than half of passengers flying between Europe and Australia or New Zealand, according to aviation analytics firm Cirium.
Doha’s international hub remains closed, though Qatar Airways has organised limited relief flights through nearby countries including Oman and Saudi Arabia.
Between February 28 and March 5, Cirium data shows that more than 25,000 flights were cancelled out of roughly 44,000 scheduled flights across the Middle East.
Jet Fuel Prices Surge
The aviation crisis has also driven a sharp rise in fuel costs.
Singapore jet fuel prices surged to a record $225 per barrel earlier in the week before easing slightly to around $195, reflecting concerns about supply disruptions from Middle Eastern refineries.
Ratings agency Fitch Ratings warned that airlines would face significant financial pressure as rising fuel costs combine with lost ticket revenue from cancellations.
Airline stocks across the Asia-Pacific region fell on Friday, including shares in Qantas Airways, Air New Zealand, Cathay Pacific, Singapore Airlines and Korean Air.
Analysis: A Strategic Shock to Global Aviation
The aviation disruption underscores how deeply global air travel depends on Middle Eastern hubs.
For decades, Gulf airlines have built a dominant position connecting Europe with Asia-Pacific through geographically central hubs in Dubai, Doha and Abu Dhabi. The conflict has exposed the vulnerability of that model: when Middle Eastern airspace becomes unsafe, large portions of global aviation networks stall simultaneously.
The ripple effects extend beyond airlines. Higher jet fuel prices and cargo delays are already disrupting global supply chains, while travellers face soaring ticket prices and chaotic rerouting through alternative hubs.
Even if hostilities subside, airlines may remain cautious about fully restoring operations until regional airspace is consistently secure. Until then, the war’s impact on aviation illustrates how geopolitical conflict can rapidly paralyse one of the world’s most interconnected industries.
With information from Reuters.
