WHAT’S THE LATEST

Update as of March 2: Airspace shutdowns across the Middle East continue following U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28 and subsequent Iranian retaliation. Airlines have now extended service suspensions into March 4–8, with the possibility of further extensions pending regional de‑escalation. 

SEKO continues to monitor the situation closely and will provide updates as new information becomes available.

WHAT WE KNOW

Closed or Restricted Airspaces

Civilian air traffic, including cargo operations, faces severe disruptions due to the following countries implementing full or partial closures:

  • Full closures:
    • Bahrain
    • Kuwait
    • Iran
    • Iraq (extended to midday 3/4)
    • Israel
    • Oman
    • Qatar
  • Partial closures:
    • Jordan (partial, temporary closure)
    • United Arab Emirates (partial to full closure; Dubai and Abu Dhabi suspended)
    • Syria (restricted; southern corridors closed)
    • Saudi Arabia (partial restrictions on select routes)

No reopening timelines have been announced.

Grounded Operations – Major Airlines

Regional and international carriers have extended widespread suspensions:

  • Emirates: All operations to/from Dubai suspended until at least 15:00 local time on 3/2 (over 400 cancellations).
  • Qatar Airways: All operations suspended; Doha airport closed until at least 3/2 (over 400 cancellations).
  • Etihad Airways: All flights suspended until at least 14:00 local time on 3/2.
  • flydubai: Operations halted.
  • Air France: To Tel Aviv, Beirut, Dubai, and Riyadh through 3/3.
  • Lufthansa: To Dubai until 3/4; to Tel Aviv, Beirut, Amman, Erbil, Dammam, and Tehran until 3/8.
  • British Airways: To Tel Aviv and Bahrain until 3/4; services to Abu Dhabi, Amman, Doha, Dubai, and Tel Aviv affected for several days.
  • Wizz Air: All flights to/from Israel, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Amman, and Saudi Arabia until 3/7.
  • KLM: To Dubai, Riyadh, Dammam through 3/6; Tel Aviv suspended.
  • Air India: All flights to/from UAE, Saudi Arabia, Israel, and Qatar until 3/3.
  • El Al (Israeli airline): Flights suspended or affected.
  • United Airlines: To Dubai through 3/4; to Tel Aviv through 3/6.
  • Aegean Airlines: To Tel Aviv, Beirut, and Erbil through 3/3.
  • ITA Airways: To/from Tel Aviv until 3/7, avoiding airspace of Israel, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq, and Iran.
  • Kuwait Airways: All flights temporarily suspended.
  • Oman Air: Suspended flights to Baghdad and other routes.
  • Gulf Air: Suspended operations.
  • Turkish Airlines: Canceled flights to several Middle Eastern destinations.
  • Other airlines with suspensions: Air Algerie, Cathay Pacific, Finnair, Iberia, IndiGo, Japan Airlines, Norwegian, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), Scandinavian Airlines (SAS), Swiss International Air Lines, and Virgin Atlantic.

Operational Impact

  • Grounded Operations: Emirates, Qatar Airways, and Etihad continue to suspend all flights to/from key hubs (Dubai, Doha, Abu Dhabi), removing both freighter and belly-hold capacity on passenger aircraft – essential for high-volume shippers.
  • Rerouting & Capacity Strain: Remaining flights are diverting via Turkey or over the Arabian Sea, adding 2-5 hours per leg.
    • The 30-50% increase in fuel burn not only elevates costs but also reduces payload capacity, limiting the volume of cargo that can be loaded per flight – even on rerouted services.
    • Passenger carriers, handling 40-60% of regional air freight, are experiencing ongoing cancellations and delays, further constraining overall lift.
  • Hub Disruptions: Dubai (the world's busiest cargo airport), Doha, and Abu Dhabi remain idle, with ground handling operations halted.
    • Warehouses are increasingly backlogged, posing risks to perishables, pharmaceuticals, electronics, and ecommerce shipments.
  • Maritime Exposure: The Strait of Hormuz – the primary gateway to the Gulf – is effectively closed, with vessel movement slowing dramatically.

Global Cargo Context

Middle East carriers, including Emirates, Qatar Airways, and Etihad, support approximately 25-30% of global air cargo volume annually, with Dubai, Doha, and Abu Dhabi serving as primary transit hubs for nearly all Asia-Europe, Asia-Africa, and intra-Gulf flows. Prolonged airspace closures sever this critical lifeline, eliminating substantial belly and freighter capacity.

 

Ocean Freight Carrier Updates

Below is a list of ocean carriers issuing service alerts or operational updates related to the regional disruption:

SEKO'S GUIDANCE

With Qatar and UAE airlines offline for multiple days, Asia-Europe and Gulf lanes face a 20-30% capacity reduction, exacerbated by payload limitations from higher fuel requirements. 

SEKO recommends importers and shippers: 

  • Plan for extended delays, including multi-day impacts on time-sensitive freight and mounting congestion at alternative hubs.
  • Expect elevated spot rates, now increasing 50–100%+ due to reduced lift and fuel-related reroute costs
  • Evaluate alternative routings and modes, including Istanbul, Frankfurt, and ocean freight solutions where possible.

If you have questions, please reach out to your SEKO representative, or email us at hello@sekologistics.com.