Passengers holding Emirates bookings for travel between 28 February and 15 April 2026 who experience flight disruptions — or who wish to change their travel plans — can choose between rebooking and requesting a refund.

Rebooking: Customers may move to an alternative Emirates service to reach their intended destination for travel on or before 31 May 2026. If the original departure is within 72 hours, travellers can make changes through Manage Your Booking or via the Emirates mobile app. For travel dates beyond the 72‑hour window, Emirates asks customers to seek help through its support channels.

Refunds: Passengers may request refunds by completing the online refund form. Emirates advises allowing up to 15 days for refund requests to be processed.

Customers who purchased tickets through travel agents should contact their agent for assistance with rebooking or refunds. Emirates also reminds travellers to verify their flight status before travelling to the airport and to consult the latest operational information.

Nearly six million airline passengers have been affected by widespread flight cancellations across the Middle East following the outbreak of the Iran conflict that began on February 28.

Data from aviation analytics firm Cirium indicates that between February 28 and March 13, airlines scheduled more than 98,000 flights to and from destinations across the Middle East. However, over 52,000 of those flights were canceled during the period, significantly disrupting regional and international travel.

The cancellations include routes connecting the Middle East with destinations outside the region, as well as inbound flights from other parts of the world. Domestic and intra–Middle East services were not included in the analysis.

Cirium’s estimates are based on an average passenger load factor of 80 percent — a metric representing the proportion of occupied seats relative to total seat capacity. Airlines operating in the region typically deploy aircraft averaging about 242 seats per flight, although some larger aircraft, including Airbus A380s and Boeing 777s, can accommodate significantly more passengers.

The scale of the cancellations highlights the wider impact on global aviation. Industry data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) shows that international passenger demand had been steadily rising prior to the disruptions. In January 2026, global international travel demand increased by 5.9 percent compared with the same month in 2025, while airline capacity grew by 5.8 percent year-on-year. During the same period, the average load factor reached 82.5 percent, a slight increase of 0.1 percentage points.

Airlines based in the Middle East experienced even stronger growth earlier in the year. Regional carriers reported a 7.2 percent year-on-year increase in passenger demand in January, alongside a 7.8 percent rise in capacity. The load factor for Middle Eastern airlines stood at 83.2 percent, representing a modest decline of 0.4 percentage points compared with the previous year.

Commenting on the situation, IATA Director-General Willie Walsh called for efforts to protect civilian aviation amid the ongoing conflict.

“We all hope for an early peaceful resolution to the current hostilities,” Walsh said. “In the meantime, states must respect their obligation to keep civilians and civil aviation free from harm.”

Jazeera Airways has introduced a temporary travel route linking Kuwait and Istanbul through Qaisumah Airport in Hafar Al Batin, Saudi Arabia, as the airline works to maintain passenger connectivity following the suspension of operations at Kuwait International Airport for safety reasons.

The Kuwaiti low-cost carrier said it is currently the only airline from Kuwait facilitating travel through this alternative arrangement. The move is part of the airline’s efforts to ensure mobility for passengers amid the ongoing regional situation.

The first flight on the new route operated on March 15. Passengers departing from Kuwait were transported by bus to Qaisumah Airport, where they boarded the flight to Istanbul Airport. For the return journey, travelers flew from Istanbul to Qaisumah before continuing their trip to Kuwait by road.

Jazeera Airways said it is coordinating closely with aviation authorities and operational partners in both Kuwait and Saudi Arabia to ensure the safety and efficiency of the temporary travel arrangements.

“As a Kuwaiti national carrier, maintaining connectivity for Kuwait during this period is extremely important for us,” said Jazeera Airways Chief Executive Officer Barathan Pasupathi. “Following the launch of flights to Egypt and Jordan, we are pleased to extend our operations to Istanbul, allowing more passengers to travel to and from Kuwait despite the current operational situation.”

Pasupathi added that since March 11 the airline has transported more than 6,000 passengers under the adjusted operations. Flights to Colombo have also been introduced and are currently fully booked.

To meet strong travel demand, the airline plans to increase flight frequencies on existing routes while gradually adding new destinations, including cities in India and the United Arab Emirates.

Pasupathi also acknowledged the support of aviation authorities and operational partners. “We are grateful for the strong collaboration and support of the Kuwait Directorate General of Civil Aviation, Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation, and our operational partners in establishing a safe and coordinated travel solution for passengers during this time,” he said.

Gulf Air has started accepting bookings for international flights departing from King Fahd International Airport in Dammam, Saudi Arabia, as the airline adjusts its operations during the ongoing closure of Bahrain’s airspace.

The carrier announced that passengers can now reserve seats on flights from Dammam to three major international destinations: London Heathrow Airport in the United Kingdom, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai, India, and Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok, Thailand. The flights are currently available for travel between March 15 and March 16 through Gulf Air’s website and mobile application, with additional travel dates expected to be announced soon.

Gulf Air said it will also facilitate transportation for passengers traveling between Bahrain and Dammam who hold confirmed flight bookings. The airline will assist eligible travelers with obtaining Saudi transit visas when required. However, passengers planning to enter Saudi Arabia must independently obtain a valid visa.

The airline further advised customers not to travel to departure airports without confirmed tickets. Flights operating to and from Bahrain International Airport remain temporarily suspended until Bahrain’s airspace reopens.