Airlines Cautiously Restore Middle East Routes After Conflict

Major international airlines are cautiously resuming select Middle East routes following regional conflicts, though widespread cancellations to key transit hubs like Dubai and Tel Aviv remain in place through the autumn and into 2027. While carriers such as Air France are beginning to phase back operations, extended groundings across major carriers underscore persistent security caution in Middle East airspace.

Air Canada and European Carriers Extend Groundings

Air Canada has cancelled its Tel Aviv and Dubai services until mid-January 2027, representing one of the most prolonged suspensions among major carriers. The lengthy timeline reflects the complex operational and security assessments required before widebody aircraft return to high-risk corridors.

Meanwhile, the Lufthansa Group has suspended multiple regional routes, including Dubai and Beirut, through October 24. This suspension applies across its operating carriers, which include Lufthansa, SWISS, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, and ITA Airways.

British Airways and Asian Carriers Adjust Schedules

British Airways has grounded flights to Dubai, Tel Aviv, Bahrain, and Amman until October 25. When these routes resume, the airline plans to operate with reduced frequencies compared to pre-conflict schedules as demand recovers.

Asian and European networks are also seeing staggered timelines:

• Cathay Pacific: Extended its Dubai service suspensions until November 30.
• Cathay Pacific: Suspended Riyadh flights until October 26.
• Air France: Resuming broader services while maintaining a suspension on Beirut flights through September 24.

What Extended Hub Closures Mean for Global Travel

Prolonged restrictions on key Middle East hubs force carriers to reroute long-haul flights between Europe, Asia, and Africa, adding fuel burn and transit time to standard routings. The phased and uneven resumption highlights how geopolitical volatility continues to disrupt international aviation corridors long after active hostilities subside.