The outbreak of a full-scale US-Israeli military operation against Iran on Saturday, February 28, has sent shockwaves through global aviation, and if you are in Germany with travel plans to or through the Middle East, your journey may already be affected. Here is everything you need to know.
At least eight countries have declared their airspace closed since the conflict erupted on Saturday, including Iran, Israel, Iraq, Jordan, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates. Syria also partially closed its southern airspace. The closures came as US and Israeli strikes hit targets across Iran and Tehran launched retaliatory missile and drone attacks across the Gulf region.
Of the 3,422 scheduled flights to Israel, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Bahrain, the UAE, Qatar and Jordan, 232 flights or 6.7 per cent were cancelled on Saturday alone, according to aviation analytics firm Cirium. The highest cancellation rates were for flights to Israel at 37.3 per cent, followed by Jordan at 13.3 per cent and Qatar at 10.1 per cent. By Sunday, the number had climbed dramatically, more than 1,800 flights in and out of the Middle East were cancelled on Saturday, with another 1,400 cancellations recorded for Sunday, according to Cirium.
For travellers in Germany, the most immediate concern is Lufthansa. Germany's Lufthansa suspended flights to and from Dubai on Saturday and Sunday, and halted its Tel Aviv, Beirut, and Oman routes through at least March 7.
This means passengers booked on Lufthansa to any of these destinations in the coming week should expect cancellations and should contact the airline immediately to explore rebooking or refund options.
The disruption extends well beyond German carriers. Among the major cancellations and suspensions relevant to travellers departing from Germany:
Air France cancelled flights to Tel Aviv on February 28 and March 1, along with services to Beirut, Dubai and Riyadh. KLM brought forward its suspension of the Amsterdam–Tel Aviv route. Wizz Air halted flights to Israel, Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Amman until March 7. Turkish Airlines cancelled flights to Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Iran and Jordan until March 2.
Emirates, one of the most popular connecting airlines for long-haul travellers transiting through Dubai, has also halted operations. Dubai International Airport, the world's busiest airport for international flights, has halted flights indefinitely. This has a knock-on effect for thousands of passengers connecting through Dubai to destinations in Asia, Africa and Australia.
Even for flights that are still operating, the picture is complicated. The Middle East is a key corridor for flights between Europe and Asia, especially since much of Russian and Ukrainian airspace remains restricted due to the ongoing war in Ukraine. With these corridors now also blocked, airlines face structurally higher operating costs, weaker aircraft utilisation and longer journey times.
Europe's aviation safety regulator EASA issued a Conflict Zone Information Bulletin for the Middle East and the Gulf, warning of a "high risk to civil aviation" and advising airlines against operating in the affected airspace.
This is a critical question for stranded passengers. A travel expert at UK consumer group Which? clarified the rules: "Given the extraordinary circumstances, passengers on delayed or cancelled flights will not be entitled to compensation. However, if you are flying with a UK or EU airline, or are departing a UK or EU airport with any carrier, your airline should provide assistance during your delay."
This means that while you cannot claim the standard EU261 compensation for a cancelled flight in these circumstances, since the disruption is classified as an extraordinary event, your airline is still legally required to offer you a full refund or rebooking at no extra cost. Many airlines are also issuing voluntary waivers allowing passengers to rebook without penalty fees.
If you have travel plans to or through the Middle East in the coming days, here is what to do. Check your airline's website and app directly rather than relying on airport departure boards, as the situation is changing by the hour.
Do not head to the airport without confirming your flight status first. If your flight has been cancelled, contact your airline immediately to request a full refund or free rebooking. If you booked through a travel agent or with travel insurance, contact them as well, some policies cover disruption caused by conflict.
Finally, monitor EASA and your airline's communications for updates, as the situation could escalate or stabilise rapidly in the coming 24 to 48 hours.
It is unclear how long the disruption to flight operations could last. A previous Israeli and US attack on Iran in June 2025 lasted 12 days. If the current conflict follows a similar trajectory, travellers should prepare for disruptions lasting well into mid-March at minimum.
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