Global carriers halt services as US-Israel strikes and Iran retaliation escalate tensions
Major airlines across Asia and Europe have suspended flights to parts of the Middle East following US-Israel airstrikes on Iran and subsequent retaliatory actions.
Garuda Halts Doha Services
Garuda Indonesia announced it has temporarily suspended flights to and from Doha until further notice. The airline said it is actively coordinating with aviation authorities and monitoring developments.
It added that its other international routes continue to operate normally and do not traverse airspace affected by the conflict.
Malaysia Airlines Follows Suit
Malaysia Airlines has also suspended flights to and from Doha, as well as Saudi Arabia’s Jeddah and Madinah, until March 4. The carrier cited continued airspace closures in parts of the Middle East.
The airline said other services remain on schedule and are operating on alternative routings that avoid conflict zones.
Widespread Global Cancellations
Air France, Air India, Turkish Airlines, Norwegian, Air Algerie and Lufthansa have announced widespread cancellations. Russia’s aviation authority Rosaviatsia said it is cancelling all commercial flights to Israel and Iran until further notice.
Air India suspended all flights to Middle Eastern destinations, citing the developing security situation in the region.
Turkish and European Disruptions
Turkish Airlines suspended flights to Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Iran and Jordan until March 2, while services to Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, the UAE and Oman were paused for a day.
Air France cancelled flights to Tel Aviv and Beirut, while British Airways suspended services to Tel Aviv and Bahrain until March 4 and cancelled a flight to Amman.
Lufthansa Extends Suspensions
Lufthansa cancelled flights to and from Tel Aviv, Beirut, Amman, Erbil and Tehran until March 7. The German airline group also suspended services to Dubai and Abu Dhabi until Sunday.
The cascading suspensions underscore how rapidly escalating regional tensions are disrupting global aviation networks.
As airspace closures ripple across the Middle East, airlines are prioritising passenger safety by suspending or rerouting flights. With no clear timeline for de-escalation, travel disruptions are expected to continue in the days ahead.
Sources: CNA (2026) , The Star (2026)
Keywords: Doha Flight Suspension, Air India Middle East Halt, Lufthansa Cancellations, Turkish Airlines Routes, Rosaviatsia Ban
