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Travelers trying to reach certain destinations are seriously grounded.
As a result of the U.S. and Israel bombing Iran on February 28, 2026, which killed Iran leader Ali Khamenei, along with subsequent attacks between countries within the Middle East, that region’s airspace remains closed. Not since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic has the world experienced flight chaos at this level.
What this means is that travelers trying to reach certain destinations are seriously grounded—and these destinations are not all in the Middle East. Even if your travel plans are not in Iraq or to a nearby nation with closed airspace, you still may have to cut the cord on a trip. You might be facing a multi-day layover at a city en route, or among the unlucky people still waiting for a return flight home two weeks since the February 28 attack. Either way, watching airport monitors and tracking flights on airline apps, while also paying thousands of dollars in unexpected hotel or short-term rental stays is the current reality.
Here are 10 destinations that are really, really hard to fly to right now due to the closure of the Middle East airspace. While there is talk of repatriated flights, booking private flights, and some people even driving to other countries to catch flights from there, it all boils down to snarled travel plans. If you can, it’s recommended to rebook your trip for a later date.
1 OF 10
Dubai
WHERE: United Arab Emirates
While flights to and from Dubai International Airport in the United Arab Emirates’ largest city have opened up, it’s been a slow, gradual process, and the flight schedule is still not fully restored. This is a major concern because this is the world’s busiest international hub. Many passengers weren’t even planning to leave the airport and explore Dubai—instead, they were transferring to another flight on Emirates, which is based in Dubai. But with recent strikes at the airport since this conflict began, including by an Iranian drone on February 28, and then again on March 7, that necessitated travelers to evacuate and seek shelter somewhere else.
2 OF 10
Doha
WHERE: Qatar
CNN reported that more than 8,000 passengers have been stranded in Qatar since the war on Iran began, because of flights not operating out of Hamad International Airport in Doha due to the airspace closure. This hub is where Qatar Airways is based. The airline announced on March 8 that flight operations to and from Doha remain temporarily suspended, but repatriation flights will be operated out of Qatar on March 10, 11, and 12 to select cities. It’s not looking too hopeful for travelers trying to reach Doha on their own.
3 OF 10
Maldives
This country’s dreamy overwater bungalows were always a long haul to reach, but now even more so, as most flights accessing Male (Velana International Airport is the Maldives’ only commercial airport) must go through Doha or Dubai. Those two cities are still facing flight delays and cancellations due to restricted airspace. Tourist arrivals to the Maldives have fallen 41.5% since the Feb. 28 attack, based on Ministry of Tourism data. The Republic of Maldives is helping stranded travelers by providing support with extensive airport services and automatic visa extensions, but given that most resorts charge upwards of $1,500 per night, this is turning into a costly trip for many.
4 OF 10
Sri Lanka
This Southeast Asian destination’s international airport (Bandaranaike International Airport) is near Colombo, the capital city, and serves 10 million passengers each year. It’s the country’s most used airport. While some flights arrive via Istanbul, Turkey; or Mumbai, India; some also do through Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Doha. As recent as earlier this week, passengers were still not able to depart from Sri Lanka, and the same is likely true for anyone who wants to visit. Worse: it’s currently high season, through April, a prime time to check out the nation, so travelers are truly missing out on an ideal time to hang in Sri Lanka.
5 OF 10
Phuket
WHERE: Thailand
Travelers are turning to Reddit to air their complaints and also seek advice on returning home from Thailand, normally a long—but feasible—trip to the States and Europe. This month, however, it’s a complicated journey to get to Thailand due to the Middle East conflict. One reason is that many flights are on Emirates and Qatar Airways, and to access Phuket—the country’s busiest commercial airport—must pass through Dubai or Doha to complete travelers’ itineraries. But with the airspace being closed, rerouting is not only a challenge but impossible.
6 OF 10
Abu Dhabi
WHERE: United Arab Emirates
Because Etihad Airways is headquartered in this capital city of the United Arab Emirates, that airline’s flight schedule has been severely disrupted since the February 18 attack. This includes travelers who want to access Abu Dhabi via Zayed International Airport as their final destination. As an example of how restricted the airspace closure is, and how reopening it remains very uncertain, British Airways just announced they are canceling all flights to Abu Dhabi through the end of 2026. That doesn’t mean the airport isn’t open, however: some flights are operational.
7 OF 10
Amman
WHERE: Jordan
Despite Jordan’s airspace being reopened on March 4, with some flights taking off on Royal Jordanian—Jordan’s flagship carrier—on March 10, British Airways announced they are cancelling all flights to and from Amman through the end of March. This is Jordan’s largest city and capital, and home to Queen Alia Airport. Spring is a prime time to visit the country, whether it’s relaxing in the Dead Sea, snorkeling in the Red Sea or exploring Petra, as the desert is in bloom. It’s not clear when all flights to and from Jordan will be back in operation.
8 OF 10
Cairo
WHERE: Egypt
Egypt’s airspace is open but not all flights are taking off and landing at Cairo International Airport, which is the country’s busiest international airport and how most travelers access Egypt from abroad. Cairo is a major hub for EgyptAir and Nile Air. On March 2, EgyptAir reported it was suspending flights to 11 cities in the Middle East, including Sharjah, Beirut, Amman, Dammam, Bahrain, Erbil and Kuwait, until further notice. Then, on March 10, the airline resumed some flights to Amman.
9 OF 10
Tel Aviv
WHERE: Israel
Immediately after the February 28 attack, some airlines rushed to cancel flights to and from Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion International Airport, including Aegean Airlines, Air France, British Airways, Iberia Express, KLM, Lufthansa, Scandinavian Airlines and Wizz Air. On March 6, flydubai said that next week they’d be operating the first flights to Tel Aviv since the war took off but EasyJet announced they’d be holding off on resuming flights to Tel Aviv until later this year, likely in the winter months. Although this is one of the busiest airports in the Middle East, on February 27 the U.S. Embassy advises reconsidering travel due to terrorism and civil unrest, as Iran has recently targeted the country with missiles.
10 OF 10
Saudi Arabia
As of March 13, Saudi Arabia’s airspace is only partially closed, although still causing some travel congestion. Some stranded travelers in the Middle East have considered driving to Sharjah to catch a flight out of Sharjah International Airport as the trip takes anywhere from 30 minutes to two hours by car, depending on traffic. That’s because it’s among “the most viable exit points from the region” right now.