MANILA, Philippines — Flights across the Middle East were disrupted Saturday after the United States and Israel launched strikes on Iran, triggering retaliatory missile attacks from Tehran and prompting several countries to partially or fully close their airspace.
Iran, Iraq, Israel, Syria, Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates announced restrictions following reported explosions in Tehran and Israel’s declaration of “preventive strikes” on Iran. Sirens were sounded in Jerusalem as Iran responded with missile launches, according to the Israeli military.
Philippine carriers affected
Philippine Airlines (PAL) canceled and diverted several Middle East flights, citing “safety and security concerns.”
Two outbound flights from Manila on Feb. 28 were ordered to return:
- PR654 (Manila–Riyadh) – expected arrival back in Manila at 10:40 p.m.
- PR658 (Manila–Dubai) – expected arrival at 9:52 p.m.
PAL also canceled the following Feb. 28 flights:
- PR684 (Manila–Doha)
- PR655 (Riyadh–Manila)
- PR659 (Dubai–Manila)
For March 1, PAL canceled:
- PR685 (Doha–Manila)
- PR658/PR659 (Manila–Dubai, Dubai–Manila)
- PR654/PR655 (Manila–Riyadh, Riyadh–Manila)
The airline said it is coordinating with aviation authorities and assisting affected passengers with rebooking, rerouting or refunds. Travelers were advised to check flight status before heading to the airport.
Cebu Pacific also diverted and canceled Dubai-bound services. Flight 5J 14 to Dubai was turned back to Manila, while return flight 5J 15 was canceled. Additional March 1 Dubai flights (5J 14 and 5J 15) were also scrapped as uncertainty over UAE airspace continues.
International airlines suspend services
Several global carriers announced widespread cancellations:
- Lufthansa suspended flights to Tel Aviv, Beirut, Amman, Erbil and Tehran until March 7, and temporarily halted Dubai and Abu Dhabi services.
- Turkish Airlines suspended flights to 10 Middle Eastern countries, including Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Iran, Jordan, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, the UAE and Oman.
- Swiss International Air Lines paused Tel Aviv operations until March 7 and canceled Zurich–Dubai flights for the weekend.
- Qatar Airways halted all flights to and from Doha after Qatar temporarily closed its airspace.
- British Airways canceled flights to Tel Aviv and Bahrain through March 3 and scrapped a Saturday Amman service.
- Air France expanded suspensions to include Dubai and Riyadh, alongside Tel Aviv and Beirut.
- Pakistan International Airlines suspended flights to the UAE, Bahrain, Doha and Kuwait.
Russia’s aviation authority also suspended commercial flights to Iran and Israel “until further notice,” instructing carriers to reroute due to airspace closures in parts of the Gulf.
Airlines emphasized that passenger and crew safety remains their top priority as they continue to assess developments in the region. Travelers with Middle East itineraries are urged to monitor airline advisories and coordinate directly with carriers for updates.
