On Saturday, June 21, 2025, approximately 400 flights faced delays or cancellations across major Middle Eastern airports as leading airlines, including Etihad, Emirates, Qatar Airways, Turkish Airlines, and Saudia, grappled with escalating Israel-Iran tensions. These tensions have triggered a new wave of regional travel chaos, with disruptions centered at key aviation hubs like Dubai, Doha, Amman, Istanbul, and Sharjah. The operational challenges stem from heightened security threats, increased airspace instability, and complex rerouting requirements, forcing carriers to adjust schedules and flight paths in response to the mounting geopolitical uncertainty.

Dubai International Airport (DXB), the busiest hub in the region, bore the brunt of the chaos, reporting 179 delayed flights and 8 cancellations. Emirates, the UAE’s flagship carrier, recorded 68 delays, while its budget counterpart FlyDubai also experienced 68 disruptions. Numerous other international airlines, including Air India, Saudia, SpiceJet, Air Canada, KLM, Aeroflot, and United Airlines, were also affected. Regional carriers like Qatar Airways, Kuwait Airways, and Flynas encountered scattered delays, all contributing to the significant stress on flight routing, security protocols, and ground handling at Gulf airports due to the tit-for-tat military exchanges between Israel and Iran.

In Qatar, Hamad International Airport (DOH) was the second most affected, with 68 delayed flights and 17 cancellations. The majority of these were by Qatar Airways, which saw 64 delays and 15 cancellations. International partners such as IndiGo and American Airlines also experienced cancellations. Given its central location and extensive network, Qatar Airways is particularly vulnerable to the ripple effects of geopolitical unrest.

Jordan’s Queen Alia International Airport (AMM) in Amman faced severe operational strain with 33 cancellations and 12 delays. Royal Jordanian was hit hardest, recording 18 cancellations and 8 delays, impacting over 14 percent of its scheduled operations. Ryanair and Air Arabia had full cancellations on certain routes, while Pegasus Airlines and Qatar Airways also saw disruptions. Amman’s proximity to conflict zones elevated alerts among aviation authorities.

Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport (SAW) in Turkey experienced 34 delays and 12 cancellations. Pegasus Airlines was largely impacted with 23 delays and all 12 cancellations, while Turkish Airlines reported 7 delays. Despite Turkey’s diplomatic distance from the conflict, the high volume of air traffic through its airspace exposed it to regional volatility and last-minute routing changes. Sharjah International Airport (SHJ) in the UAE, though smaller, was not exempt, recording 28 delays and 5 cancellations, predominantly affecting Air Arabia and other lower-cost regional carriers like Fly Jinnah and Air India Express.

This wave of travel disruptions is a direct consequence of the dramatically escalating military tensions between Israel and Iran, marked by missile exchanges and air defense maneuvers. The threat of conflict expansion has led to airspace restrictions, sudden no-fly zones, and delays in securing flight paths, particularly in the Gulf and Levant regions. Airlines are exercising extreme caution, rerouting flights to avoid hazardous corridors, which results in longer travel times and congestion on alternative routes. Additionally, heightened security checks, crew fatigue management, and extended ground handling procedures have further compounded the disruption. Travelers are advised to monitor airline announcements and flight statuses, and prepare for potential delays, as industry analysts warn that intensifying geopolitical tensions could lead to widespread schedule reshuffling, affecting even intercontinental routes.

Amidst this backdrop of escalating tensions and potential U.S. involvement, Iran’s largest airline, Mahan Air, made a significant announcement regarding the resumption of select passenger routes between China and Iran. Starting June 22, 2025, Mahan Air will operate flights between major Chinese cities and Mashhad, marking a notable shift in its network. The resumed flights, detailed in Mahan Air’s official bulletin, include round trips from Shanghai Pudong to Mashhad (PVG-MHD-PVG) on Mondays and Thursdays (W5076), and Wednesdays and Sundays (W5077). Flights between Beijing Capital and Mashhad (PEK-MHD-PEK) will operate on Tuesdays (W5078) and Sundays (W5079). Operations for Guangzhou and Shenzhen routes are to be announced later. This phase of operations is scheduled from June 22 through July 20, 2025, with schedules subject to adjustment based on the evolving geopolitical climate.

A particularly strategic aspect of Mahan Air’s decision is the shift of its primary Iranian hub from Tehran’s Imam Khomeini International Airport (IKA) to Mashhad International Airport (MHD) in Iran’s northeast. Mashhad, Iran’s second-largest city, is geographically distant from the potential conflict zone involving Israel, positioning it as a safer operational location. This relocation is perceived as a measure to distance the airline’s operations from areas more likely to be affected by any escalation of the Israel-Iran conflict. Mashhad’s proximity to the borders of Afghanistan and Turkmenistan further enhances its strategic importance, underscoring Mahan Air’s intent to operate with caution and adapt to shifting political tides. This move is part of a broader strategy to safeguard assets and maintain key international flight routes despite the volatile security situation.

While Mahan Air has not publicly elaborated on the precise reasons for this hub shift, focusing on Mashhad rather than Tehran is significant and reflects broader geopolitical considerations, often aligning with Iran’s strategic goals. The choice to resume flights to China, bypassing Tehran, carries deeper implications given the strong economic and political ties between China and Iran. The continuation of air connectivity suggests steadfast cooperation despite the challenging international environment, signaling Iran’s desire to maintain and reinforce its relations with China as a key regional player. Mahan Air’s strategic adaptation to the current geopolitical climate highlights its agility, especially as maintaining air links with China remains crucial for Tehran’s ongoing economic and diplomatic efforts amidst sanctions and isolation.

In total, the disruptions across the five Middle Eastern airports on this day amounted to 321 delayed flights and 75 cancellations, with nearly 400 flights affected. This widespread disturbance underscores how political conflict can rapidly impact the interconnected aviation industry, affecting travelers and cargo globally.