The ongoing U.S.-Iran war has resulted in travel disruptions across the globe as several countries in the Middle East have announced airspace closures. Here's how airlines reacted.
Delta, United Cancel Flights
Delta Airlines Inc. (NYSE:DAL) announced on Sunday that it was suspending its flight operations from New York's JFK airport to the Israeli city of Tel Aviv through March 8 and from Tel Aviv to JFK through March 9. United Airlines Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:UAL) also announced that it was suspending flights to Tel Aviv through March 6 as tensions rise in the region.
United also cancelled flights to and from Dubai through March 4. Meanwhile, a web search shows that American Airlines Group Inc. (NASDAQ:AAL) has cancelled its Philadelphia-Doha flight through March 4. Data from Flightradar on Monday also showcased that the airspace over Iran, Kuwait, Bahrain and Iraq remained closed.
How International Operators Reacted
Middle Eastern flight operators such as Emirates, Etihad Airways, Qatar Airways and more announced the cancellation of several flights as over 2,400 flights were cancelled on Sunday, according to a report by CBS News. The Dubai airport also came under fire from Iranian missiles over the weekend. The flight disruptions have left thousands of travellers stranded.
Indian flight operator Air India also announced cancellations of flights to several destinations across the globe, including the U.S. and Europe, as the situation escalates in the Middle East. British Airways has also cancelled flights to Tel Aviv and Bahrain. German operator Lufthansa, too, announced suspension of flights to the UAE until March 4, while also suspending flights to Tehran, Tel Aviv and more until March 8.
US-Iran War
The news comes after a U.S.-Israeli joint operation launched missile attacks on the Iranian capital of Tehran, which resulted in the death of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Tensions between the countries in the region have also impacted global trade as oil prices surge. Iran could also consider shutting down the Strait of Hormuz, a key shipping route responsible for over 27% of global crude oil shipments.
Several U.S. lawmakers have criticized the Trump administration for launching the attacks, with Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass) calling the escalation “illegal” and slamming Trump for dragging the U.S. toward another forever war without congressional authorization.
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