Several airlines have suspended flights to the Middle East since Israel struck Iran. Things have gone even further since the U.S. bombed Iranian nuclear sites.
Satellite imagery shows damage to the Fordow Nuclear Facility in Central Iran, following last night’s strikes against the underground complex by the U.S. Air Force. At least six impact sites from 12 GBU-57A/B MOP (Massive Ordnance Penetrator) 30,000lb “Bunker Buster” Bombs… pic.twitter.com/5d6CGiq8B8
— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) June 22, 2025
Delta suspended service to Tel Aviv, Israel, until at least September. United halted Tel Aviv through at least July. And Newark – Dubai was suspended also. American nerfed their Philadelphia – Doha service.
Lufthansa ceased its Tel Aviv and Tehran sevice through July 31, 2025, and had even paused Amman. KLM halted routes across the region and BA did as well.
These suspensions aren’t limited to U.S. and European carriers. Emirates cancelled Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, and Iran and their Iran and Iraq cancellations are ongoing. Even Qatar temporarily cancelled flights to Iran and Iraq, although their flights are again scheduled. And Russian carriers were instructed to stop using the airspace of Iran, Iraq, Israel, and Jordan until June 26, 2025, with flights to airports in Iran and Israel off-limits for civil carriers.
Qatar, though, wants you to know that they’ll fly through anything.
We have some of the best people in the business working behind the scenes to keep our network strong and secure, and to ensure we remain the airline you can trust and rely on. pic.twitter.com/0GkhDcLVzP
— Qatar Airways (@qatarairways) June 22, 2025
Iranian airspace is probably safe, actually? Iran’s own foreign minister had to seek Israeli permission to fly to Europe because Israel currently controls Iranian airspace. So as long as Israel clears you then it seems like you’re fine.
At the same time, I read Qatar’s note as “We’re friends with the Iranians, and we may be their only friend left, don’t worry they won’t mess with us.”
In some ways Qatar-Iran cooperation is surprising, because the Iranian govenrment is dominated by Shia Muslims and Qatar is generally Sunni. However the two countries co-own the world’s largest gas deposit (North Dome/South Pars). So when Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain, and Egypt blockaded Qatar in 2017, Iran opened its airspace and ports and delivered food. Iranian air routes kept Qatar Airways flying.
Doha has funded the Muslim Brotherhood and Hamas. It has sought influence over Syrian rebels and Sudanese factions in competition with Saudi Arabia. That’s made them allies with Saudi enemy Iran. Yet it also tilts towards the West, hosting America’s Al Udeid Air Base.
Neither side in the current conflict is actively going against Qatar. Nonetheless, since accidents happen in the fog of war, I might still avoid flying through the region – as all remaining commercial flights will be doing to the extent possible.
Good. Qatar Airways has been one of the most reliable and luxurious airlines, especially during the pandemic when many were not operating. And DOH airport is epic.
Apparently, Emirates is also flying, regardless of events, too. Again, good. Just flew them from Dubai. All went well. Oh, and they got showers on the a380. C’mon, freakin’ awesome.
Just take a slightly different routing. That’s all. Easy peasy.
“Leroy Jenkins was unavailable for comment.”
One other point (the same could be said of China), is that the world generally views the Iranian people favorably (as they do the Chinese), it’s the Governments that are unfavorable. So, in the interest of potential regime change and happier days ahead, it would appear that they are avoiding civilian targets (excepting high-level military/nuclear domiciles): Suggesting no airports, oil refineries, businesses, marketplaces, power plants, anything that a future society would need.
@TexasTJ — Well said. Let’s hope it stays that way. Though, clearly the current Iranian regime had no qualms hitting civilians and hospitals in Israel. So, if Iran were to attack civilians in the Gulf (Qatar, UAE, Saudi, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, etc.), whether it’s airlines or airports, that’d be a major escalation, and a quick way to get those countries directly involved and against Iran (if they aren’t already). Further, the talk of blocking the Strait of Hormuz is dumb, too, for similar reasons. Not a way to ‘make friends.’ Even the CCP may soon be upset if they can’t get their cheap oil as easily.
They’ll fly through anything regardless of how their slave labor feels about it.
Hopefully as Americans fly these airlines they don’t become Iran hostages!
Anyone old enough here to remember the past?
Or do we only think about luxury seats and showers in the air?
Not to be a worry wort but just sayin
I don’t know, I still can’t get a friggin award seat in Business Class on QR at least through November.
@Mak — With QR, there used to be a sweet spot, 70K one-way, often in Qsuite from many US cities to DOH, and even connecting onward to really nice places, like MLE, HKT, etc. It still happens, just usually more last-minute, like week-of.
Look on the bright side, if folks like @dwondermeant get their way, and people make decisions based on ‘fear’ instead of reality (these routes are still quite safe), then maybe demand will reduce and more award space becomes available.
Oh, and buddy, this ain’t 1979, and the shower is awesome. So, yeah, enjoy that 5 minutes of ‘heaven’ onboard. Besides, last notable ‘hijacking’ was 2021 when Belarus forced Ryanair to land so they could take that guy flying from Greece who said mean things about their dictator. I remember.
Finally, recall earlier this year, Gary hypothesized that if the tariffs (or other factors) caused a global recession, then there at least would be some ‘deals’ in the airline and hotel sectors. He’s probably right. Whether it’s worthwhile for the entire economy to suffer, well, that’s a different evaluation.
Of course Gary won’t mention how Israel also funded Hamas, as that will mean he gets sent to Room 101
Qatar is doing what it needs to to survive.
I’m flying on Qatar Airways through Doha in a few weeks. Let’s see how it goes.
The return is actually on American metal from Doha to Philly even though it’s a Qatar airways ticket. I got a notification from American today saying that I can change my dates for free but not a flight cancellation notice.
No emails from Qatar. Either way it’s Qatar’s responsibility to get me back to MSP so hopefully they’ll route via ORD or something.
@747always – ” Israel also funded Hamas” you mean that Israel allowed support to flow in from Qatar.
Successive Israeli governments let Qatar move large amounts of money and fuel into Gaza, knowing Hamas—Gaza’s de-facto government—would administer (and benefit from) the cash.
* Nov 2018 – May 2021 ~ $15m/month arrived at the Erez crossing
* Mid-2021 – Oct 2023 Qatar paid Egypt for $7-10m/mo of fuel which Hamas sold locally
The funds were earmarked for civil service salaries; stipends for impoverished families; power subsidies; infrastructure. The bet in Israel was that humanitarian cash would quell discontent and reduce violence, with the added benefit that it would continue to support a split between the Palestinian Authority and Hamas, and improve Israel’s international standing by supporting humanitarian aid – and could do so without spending Israeli tax money.
Blaming Israel (or ‘Netanyahu’) for Hamas is stupid. But every Qatari dollar that paid doctors or fuel freed up Hamas’s own revenue for weapons. And they were obviously wrong that humanitarian aid would forestall attacks.
@IsaacM — If you care about yourself, please ask Qatar to switch to their metal for that return itinerary (route through other US cities, if they’ll let you, like JFK, BOS, ORD, etc.) You do you, but save yourself the trouble and do not trust AA on this (besides, QR is so much better hard and soft product), unless you want an extended stay in Doha, which, depending on your preferences, may not be that bad.
Lort, is Qatar the new “Swiss” of the Middle East? Qatar also opened up trade with Israel under 45, I believe, along with Saudi Arabia and UAE.
I have a feeling that the Crown Prince had a call with his Iranian friends and basicly said “go ahead, f-with us – FAFO… you’ll wish the Americans finished you off” sorta calls….
@haolenate — Qatar, like the UAE, is basically that. Oil money changes things. Diversified economies, namely focused on tourism, changes things. Gold, too.
If only Iran would stop funding its proxies (and, now, direct attacks), actually allow its people to thrive, instead of forcing theocratic dictatorship down their throats. Yeah, while no one seems to want ‘boots on the ground,’ regime change there would be ‘good’ too. It’s not 2003. It’s not Iraq.
You’re referring to the Abraham Accords in 2020, where United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco, and Sudan established diplomatic ties with Israel. Yes, it is one of the decent things that #45 did.
Those countries are mostly Sunni and Arab. Iran is Persian. They’re the outlier. Yes, MBS would like nothing more than to finish off the ayatollah; and that prince knows power consolidation well (see the Ritz-Carlton Riyadh). He also seems to get ‘modernization,’ (like, lettin’ the ladies drive!), though, killing journalists went a bit too far for my taste.
Even though I am no fan of #45/47, or Netanyahu, and their parties/approaches, even I can still admit these were genuinely good things, like actual progress, for the region. Take the win.
@dwondermeant expresses concern, stating, “Hopefully as Americans fly these airlines, they don’t end up as hostages in Iran!” Fortunately, there’s reassuring news for passengers who have been held hostage for over two years in a foreign country and have chosen to use auto bill pay on their Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard.
Here’s the key point: American Airlines AAdvantage miles expire after 24 months of inactivity, but any qualifying activity—like earning or redeeming miles—will extend the life of your miles for another 24 months from that activity date. Plus, AAdvantage credit cardholders enjoy having their miles remain valid if their card account is active. Thanks to Gary Leff’s recommendation to use the Citi/ AAdvantage Executive World Elite Mastercard when flying on American Airlines, my fear of having my American Airlines AAdvantage frequent flyer miles expire if held hostage is reduced.
@Ken A — This guy gets it. Take me hostage, daddy, but donchu dare let my pointies expire!
They are idiots.
The reason you avoid combat zones is normally not that you’re afraid someone’s going to target you. Rather, you stay away because somebody might mistake you for a military target. The guys with the SAMs have been known to make mistakes.
Well this aged well. Per the NYT-
Qatar announced that it is temporarily suspending traffic in its airspace “to ensure the safety of citizens, residents, and visitors,” according to a statement from the country’s foreign ministry. Qatar hosts Al Udeid Air Base, the largest American base in the Middle East, which serves as the headquarters for the U.S. Central Command.
news sources say that Qatari airspace has just closed
And Iran has attacked a US base on Qatari soil.
So much for the bravado.
Bahrain, the UAE and Qatar have all closed their airspace. I guess Qatar Airways was wrong! Reportedly Iran gave a heads up in advance about the attack on the US base on Qatar, though, so that they could be seen as responding to the U.S. attack but (they hope) still allowing for an off-ramp rather than encouraging further U.S. response.
@Gary Leff — Qatar Airways will be back once the missiles stop flying. Per the NYTimes: “Qatar said its air defenses had intercepted the missiles, and the Defense Department said there were no reports of injuries.” So, if Iran wanted all the Gulf States to unite against it, here we go. Dumb (for Iran).
@1990 yes that would be my preference to fly on QR metal. But the itinerary and price was good for that specific ticket. I believe we talked about it on another post a couple of weeks ago.
But I guess now I have an excuse to ask QR to change me to one of those ORD, BOS or JFK itineraries (that’s my order of preference) with the long leg on their own plane for free.
I have a few weeks to fly so hopefully things will settle down and Qatar is open back up for business.
I could probably skip this trip through Doha but my mom is also with me on the way out. I’ll probably have to find a way around the other side of the globe. There were a few options on Singapore Airlines.
Going westbound is ideal from West Coast but being in MSP it’s not too roundabout.
Hopefully China won’t launch a special military operation on Taiwan and cause closings on that side of the globe..
Bit of an overstatement, given that the airspace is currently closed due to incoming missiles.
“We’ll Fly Through Anything”
This did not age well!
@Isaac M — Ah, now I remember! Wishing you the best on your journey. Life must go on or those who seek to defeat us win (Dubya may have said it differently in 2001.)
Ironically, at least from JFK/EWR, SQ flies eastward over the Atlantic, Europe, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, etc., so it’s a narrow path, these days, but they get it done. You’d think they’d fly over the poles, but they avoid Russia. And going west over the Pacific is longer and usually with headwinds.
As to Xi and the CCP, yeah, I’ve been expecting it. Depending on how things go in Eastern Europe and the Middle East, they may seek to take advantage of the distraction, or, they’ll note how Russia and Iran aren’t doing so well, and hold off for a little longer. If they do attempt to take Taiwan, that’s WW3, which historians may consider having already started (since 2022).
It’s a big world, though. And there’ll be places and people relatively unaffected. It’d be nice to ‘sit it out,’ but, then again, sometimes, you gotta stand up for what you believe in. I don’t wanna live under tyranny anywhere.
and with the announcement that Israel and Iran have agreed to a ceasefire, maybe peace will return to the Middle East. tomorrow. for a day. or two
@1990 cheers to life going on.
@Tim Dunn — Ye of little faith… #45/47 desperately wants (no, ‘needs’) that Nobel Peace Prize. After all, his nemesis, #44, got one. And, I can’t believe it, but Pakistan, of all places, just nominated him. Bah! I’d say that cake is half-baked, but I’ll leave it up to the Swedish Academy to decide.
@IsaacM — Yup, Qatar Airways is already back, up, and running. Even if there are future incidents, at least they kinda know what to expect. I’ll be keeping my future bookings with them. Besides, if one must ‘go out,’ better to be in Qsuite… (too dark?)
@Sully of Doha — If you’re still out there, hope you’re doing alright.