What travelers need to know after the U.S., Israeli strikes on Iran
Stranded passengers wait at Velana International Airport in Male’ on March 1, 2026, after many flights to the Middle East were cancelled.
Muhammad Afrah | Afp | Getty Images
Travelers have been stranded in remote places like Australia, Brazil and the Maldives after the US and Israel attacked Iran this weekend. The airspace in the area is still closed, so returning home may be difficult for at least a few days.
Here’s what you need to know:
Why are flights disrupted?
Nearly 3,000 flights have been canceled since the conflict in Iran began on Saturday, according to aviation data firm Cirium, and subsequent Iranian attacks continue to impact other parts of the region.
Airspace across much of the Middle East was closed and flights to Dubai International Airport, one of the world’s busiest hubs, Tel Aviv and Doha, Qatar, were suspended. More than 40 flights were forced to divert in the early hours of Saturday morning after the attack led to the closure of airspace in the region.
This means customers connecting via major hubs in the region will also be affected, as will holidaymakers, business travelers and other travelers stranded around the world.
When will passengers be able to return home?
This still remains unclear. As of 11:30 a.m. ET, regional airspace closures continue to impact flights. Airlines will have to relocate their planes spread around the world.
For example, the world’s largest passenger aircraft, Airbus A380s, operated by Etihad, are based in many cities including London, Paris, Toronto and Singapore. Flightradar24 said on Sunday that four were on the ground at its base in Abu Dhabi. However, Etihad was beginning to reposition its aircraft at its Abu Dhabi hub in case the airspace reopens.
Qatar Airways has one A380 at its Doha base, while others are based in Sydney, Bangkok and elsewhere.
Israeli airline El Al has paused ticket sales and said its priority in the coming weeks will be to ensure that ticket-holding passengers can return home.
Airlines have all issued waivers for affected destinations.
Major airlines are also likely to add extra flights when airspace reopens to meet the increase in demand.
The State Department did not immediately comment on its plans, but when the Covid-19 pandemic began in 2020, special flights were added around the world to get passengers home.
Will travel insurance help?
Standard travel insurance policies generally do not cover events that have already occurred or developed, whether it be a military attack or a hurricane. Travelers must have purchased a more expensive option called “cancel anytime” insurance that allows them to do just that.
—CNBC’s Contessa Brewer contributed to this article.
