Flights Cancelled Amid US-Iran War: Routes Hit, Refunds, & Your Rights

Last Updated On 28 February 2026, 9:14 AM EST (Toronto Time)

Several flights cancelled as the United States and Israel launched major military strikes on Iran on Saturday, February 28, 2026.

President Donald Trump officially announced “major combat operations” in Iran early Saturday morning.

The joint US-Israel attack has triggered massive flight cancellations across the Middle East.

At least eight countries have closed their airspace following the strikes. These include Iran, Israel, Iraq, Jordan, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates.

Syria has also partially closed its airspace along its border with Israel. Thousands of passengers are now stranded at airports throughout the region.

Trump Announces Major Combat Operations in Iran

President Trump posted an eight-minute video on Truth Social announcing the strikes.

“A short time ago, the United States military began major combat operations in Iran,” Trump said.

“Our objective is to defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime.”

Trump described the operation as aimed at destroying Iran’s missiles, navy, and nuclear capabilities.

“We are going to destroy their missiles and raze their missile industry to the ground,” the president stated.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed the joint operation.

He said the goal is to “remove the existential threat posed by the terrorist regime in Iran.”

The operation is expected to last several days, according to officials briefed on the matter.

Countries That Have Closed Their Airspace

The following countries have shut down their airspace as of February 28, 2026:

Iran – Complete airspace closure following US and Israeli strikes
Israel – All passenger flights suspended amid retaliatory missile threats
Iraq – Full airspace closure due to regional security concerns
Jordan – Airspace closed as missiles fly over the region
Qatar – Temporary closure halting all Qatar Airways operations
Bahrain – Airspace shut down after Iranian missiles target US bases
Kuwait – Complete closure amid fears of further escalation
United Arab Emirates – Airspace restricted after missile interceptions over Abu Dhabi
Syria – Partial closure along the border with Israel for 12 hours

Complete List of Airlines That Have Cancelled or Suspended Flights

The airspace closures have forced virtually every major airline operating in the Middle East to cancel, suspend, or reroute their flights, creating chaos at airports worldwide.

Gulf Carriers:

Emirates – Suspended all flight operations to and from Dubai citing “multiple regional airspace closures”
Qatar Airways – Temporarily suspended all flights to and from Doha until airspace reopens
Etihad Airways – Grounded all flights at Abu Dhabi International Airport
Flydubai – Cancelled all departures from Dubai
Air Arabia – Reporting significant delays and cancellations across all routes
Gulf Air – Suspended operations due to Bahrain airspace closure

North American Carriers:

Air Canada – Cancelled flights to Tel Aviv and suspended Middle East destinations
United Airlines – Cancelled Tel Aviv services and diverted other flights to Athens
Delta Air Lines – Suspended New York to Tel Aviv service

European Carriers:

Lufthansa – Frozen Tehran operations until at least March 29 with regional adjustments
Air France – Cancelled flights to Tel Aviv, Dubai, and Beirut
KLM – Suspended services to UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Israel
British Airways – Briefly halted Bahrain flights before restoring limited service
Wizz Air – Suspended flights to Israel, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Amman
Norwegian Air – Suspended Dubai services until March 4
Turkish Airlines – Suspended flights to Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Iran, Jordan, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, UAE, and Oman

Asian Carriers:

Air India – Suspended all flights to Middle East destinations and diverted aircraft
IndiGo – Cancelled all flights to and from the Middle East region until further notice

Flight Cancellation Numbers and Airport Chaos

The scale of disruption is unprecedented, with FlightAware reporting hundreds of cancelled flights across the Middle East as of Saturday morning.

Here’s the current situation at major airports:

Dubai International Airport (DXB) – More than 200 flights cancelled in and out
Tel Aviv Ben Gurion Airport (TLV) – Nearly 20% of all flights cancelled
Hamad International Airport, Doha (DOH) – Full operational suspension
Abu Dhabi International Airport (AUH) – Thousands of passengers stranded in terminals
Bahrain International Airport – All commercial operations halted

Passengers at Abu Dhabi International Airport report being stuck for over six hours without clear communication from airlines, with hotel rooms near the airport becoming increasingly scarce as terminals turn into makeshift waiting areas.

What Affected Passengers Should Do

If your flight has been cancelled or you’re currently stranded at a Middle East airport, here are the steps you should take immediately:

Check your flight status through your airline’s app or website before heading to the airport
Contact your airline directly to request rebooking or a full refund for cancelled flights
Keep all receipts for expenses incurred due to cancellations including meals, hotels, and transportation
Know your rights – Airlines are required to rebook affected passengers at the earliest opportunity, even if this means transferring to another carrier
Request accommodation – Airlines must provide hotels and meals for passengers facing long delays
Consider alternative routing through airports not affected by closures such as Athens, Istanbul, or Cairo
Document everything including cancellation notices, communications, and any expenses
Check your travel insurance as policies may cover conflict-related cancellations and additional expenses
Stay flexible and consider rebooking for a later date once the situation stabilizes

Passengers departing from EU/EEA airports are entitled to additional protections under Duty of Care regulations, which require airlines to provide assistance regardless of the cause of disruption.

Canada Issues Highest Level Travel Advisory

The Canadian government has issued its highest level of travel advisory for Iran, urging all Canadians to avoid all travel to the country due to ongoing hostilities, the risk of arbitrary detention, and severely limited consular services.

Prime Minister Mark Carney and Minister Anita Anand released a joint statement on February 28, 2026, addressing the escalating situation in the Middle East.

“The Canadian government is closely following Iran-related hostilities throughout the Middle East and urges all Canadians in Iran to shelter in place,” the statement reads.

The statement makes Canada’s position clear: “The Islamic Republic of Iran is the principal source of instability and terror throughout the Middle East, has one of the world’s worst human rights records, and must never be allowed to obtain or develop nuclear weapons.”

Canada has no embassy operating inside Iran, making consular services extremely limited for any Canadians who remain in the country.

Emergency Contact Information for Canadians in the Middle East

Canadians and permanent residents in the Middle East who need emergency consular assistance should contact Canada’s dedicated emergency line:

Email: me-mo.sos@international.gc.ca

The Canadian government is taking the following steps to protect its nationals:

Deploying additional ground staff to assist Canadians at key airports in the region
Coordinating with allied nations to ensure safe passage for Canadian citizens
Urging all Canadians to register with the Registration of Canadians Abroad service
Allowing family members to register loved ones on their behalf if needed
Providing consular support through the Embassy of Canada in Ankara, Turkey

Canadians currently in Iran are advised to leave immediately if safe to do so, ensure their travel documents are valid, and obtain sufficient supplies in case departure is not possible.

Canada’s Official Position on the Iran Strikes

According to the joint statement from Prime Minister Carney and Minister Anand, Canada fully supports the US-led military action against Iran.

Key points from Canada’s official statement:

Canada and international partners have consistently called upon Iran to end its nuclear program
Canada has listed the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist entity
Canada has sanctioned 256 Iranian entities and 222 individuals in response to the regime’s actions
Canada supports the United States acting to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon
Canada reaffirms Israel’s right to defend itself and ensure the security of its people
Canada urges the protection of all civilians in this conflict

“Canada stands with the Iranian people in their long and courageous struggle against Iran’s oppressive regime,” the statement concludes.

Iran Launches Retaliatory Strikes Across the Region

Iran has responded to the US and Israeli strikes by launching retaliatory attacks against multiple targets across the Middle East, further escalating the conflict.

Iranian missiles have reportedly targeted:

Israel – Multiple waves of ballistic missiles triggering air raid sirens nationwide
Qatar – Iranian missiles launched at US military installations
United Arab Emirates – Waves of missiles intercepted over Abu Dhabi
Kuwait – Strikes targeting US bases in the country
Bahrain – Attacks on US naval facilities
Jordan – Iranian missiles targeting US assets
Iraq – Strikes on US coalition bases including Erbil

The UAE reports successfully intercepting multiple waves of Iranian missiles, with fragments falling across Abu Dhabi but causing no significant casualties.

The situation remains highly volatile and continues to develop by the hour.

Countries That Have Issued Emergency Travel Advisories

Multiple nations have now issued their highest-level travel warnings for Iran and the broader Middle East region:

United States – Level 4 “Do Not Travel” advisory for Iran with evacuation of non-essential embassy staff
Canada – “Avoid All Travel” advisory for Iran with urgent departure recommendation
United Kingdom – Warning citizens to leave Iran immediately
Germany – Advising all citizens to avoid travel to Iran
Australia – Urging citizens to leave Iran without delay
China – Issued an unusual evacuation advisory for its nationals
India – Advising citizens to avoid non-essential travel to the region
South Korea – Emergency travel advisories issued for the Middle East
Brazil – Travel advisory urging citizens to leave Iran

The Canadian advisory extends beyond Iran to include Lebanon, Israel, and Jordan, underscoring the widespread nature of the regional instability.

When Will Flights Resume?

The resumption of normal flight operations depends heavily on how the situation develops over the coming days, particularly whether Iran continues its retaliatory strikes or if de-escalation begins.

Here’s what we know about expected timelines:

Most airlines expect disruptions to continue for at least 24 to 48 hours minimum
Turkish Airlines has suspended certain routes until Monday pending security assessments
Qatar Airways has extended its suspension of most Iran flights until June 30, 2026
Norwegian Air has suspended Dubai services until March 4
Lufthansa has frozen Tehran operations until at least March 29

Airlines are emphasizing that these measures are precautionary and driven by real-time security assessments, airspace advisories, and insurance considerations.

Passengers should expect ad-hoc cancellations, schedule cuts, and extended routing to persist until the regional security picture stabilizes.

How to Get Refunds and Compensation for Cancelled Flights

Passengers affected by these cancellations have several options for obtaining refunds and compensation:

Full refunds – All airlines must offer full refunds for cancelled flights upon request
Rebooking options – Airlines must rebook passengers at the earliest opportunity, including on competitor airlines if necessary
EU compensation – Passengers departing from EU airports may be eligible for additional compensation under EU regulations
Travel insurance claims – Check your policy for coverage of conflict-related cancellations and additional expenses
Credit card protections – Many travel credit cards offer additional benefits for trip interruptions
Meal and accommodation – Airlines must provide these for passengers facing extended delays

Contact your airline directly through their customer service channels and document all communications for your records.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Which countries have closed their airspace?

Iran, Israel, Iraq, Jordan, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates have closed their airspace following the US and Israeli strikes on Iran.

How can Canadians in the Middle East get emergency help?

Canadians and permanent residents can contact Canada’s emergency consular services at me-mo.sos@international.gc.ca for immediate assistance.

Will airlines provide refunds for cancelled flights?

Yes, airlines are required to provide full refunds or rebooking options for flights cancelled due to airspace closures.

How long will flight cancellations last?

Most airlines expect disruptions to continue for at least 24 to 48 hours, though some have extended suspensions until the security situation stabilizes.

What should stranded passengers do at Middle East airports?

Contact your airline immediately, keep all receipts for expenses, and monitor official airline channels for updates on rebooking options and alternative routes.

Kamal Deep Singh, RCIC

Kamal Deep Singh, RCIC (Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant) licensed by CICC (formerly known as ICCRC) with member number R708618. He brings extensive knowledge of immigration law and new changes to rapidly evolving IRCC.