The Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA) has urged governments to consider support measures for airlines facing ongoing disruptions from the Middle East conflict.
AAPA highlighted the additional strain on the sector as airspace closures over Iran, Iraq, Syria, Jordan, and parts of Israel force widespread flight rerouting and cancellations.[1] Major carriers including British Airways, Singapore Airlines, Air France KLM, American Airlines, and United Airlines have suspended services to hubs like Dubai, Doha, and Riyadh, with some pauses extending into late June or mid-July.[1]
Middle East airlines report a 52% year-on-year decline in flights, contributing to a global capacity contraction of 2.5% in early March 2026.[4] Over 52,000 flights have been cancelled since the conflict escalated, alongside rising fuel costs with Brent crude exceeding $100 per barrel.[2][3]
Passenger and cargo operations face delays from detours, GPS jamming risks, and reduced belly-hold capacity on wide-body flights.[1] European and North American airlines have seen secondary impacts, with forward schedules adjusted downward for April and May.[4]
AAPA emphasized the need for government collaboration to mitigate these pressures on Asia Pacific carriers.