Asia air travel thrown into chaos as Middle East conflict widens

2026-03-01 - 15:22

Air travel across the Asia-Pacific region descended into chaos Sunday as escalating military conflict between Iran and US-Israeli forces triggered widespread airspace closures across the Middle East, leaving thousands of passengers stranded and forcing airlines to cancel or reroute hundreds of flights. The disruptions follow Saturday's US-Israeli attacks that killed Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and senior officials, and Tehran's subsequent retaliatory missile strikes across the region. In India, authorities were forced to cancel approximately 350 flights while issuing urgent advisories for seafarers navigating Middle Eastern waters. Hong Kong International Airport witnessed hundreds of frustrated passengers crowding departure counters seeking information about suspended services, particularly routes to Riyadh, Doha and Dubai, according to the South China Morning Post. Hong Kong's flagship carrier Cathay Pacific suspended all passenger and cargo flights to and from the Middle East following the airspace closures. Airlines Ground Regional Routes Pakistan International Airlines announced suspension of flights to the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar until further notice, while rerouting Saudi-bound flights to avoid conflict zones. Malaysia Airlines extended its suspension of services to Doha, Jeddah and Madinah until March 4, Malaysia's state news agency Bernama reported, indicating the prolonged nature of the aviation crisis. In Australia, stranded travelers spent Saturday night at Sydney Airport as cancellations mounted, ABC News reported. Virgin Australia confirmed that seven flights operated by Qatar Airways were canceled Sunday, with five more cancellations expected Monday, highlighting the cascading effects of Middle East turbulence on global aviation networks. Governments Issue Warnings Governments across Asia moved quickly to protect citizens as thousands of expatriates from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal currently work in Gulf nations. Pakistan advised its nationals in the region to remain indoors and avoid unnecessary travel, while Japan considers evacuating its citizens from Israel as early as Tuesday, with plans to relocate them to Jordan, according to Kyodo news agency. Indonesia urged citizens planning Umrah pilgrimages to delay travel, Antara News Agency reported, recognizing the risks of traversing conflict-affected airspace. Nepal took the extraordinary step of suspending labor permits for workers heading to 12 Gulf and Middle East nations, with Department of Foreign Employment Director General Mira Acharya confirming: "A ministerial-level decision has barred us from issuing labor permits to countries of the Middle East." Migrant Workers Caught in Crisis Bangladesh's Foreign Ministry reported that airspace closures have severely disrupted travel for migrant workers heading to Middle East destinations, with authorities scrambling to assist stranded passengers at airports. The disruptions strike at the heart of South Asian economies that depend heavily on remittances from millions of workers employed across the Gulf region. The aviation chaos stems from Saturday's coordinated US-Israeli strikes on Iranian targets and Iran's widespread retaliation targeting US-linked bases across the Middle East. The attacks follow ongoing nuclear negotiations between Washington and Tehran under Omani mediation, which now appear shattered. Last June, Israel initiated a 12-day war on Iran, with the US later joining and bombing three Iranian nuclear sites, setting the stage for the current devastating escalation now disrupting air travel across continents.