Intercontinental flights from Asia to Europe face a severe capacity crunch as major Middle East airports remain closed for a fourth consecutive day. Seat availability on key routes has collapsed, with ticket prices soaring to multiples of normal levels, forcing airlines to reroute through longer, costlier paths.
The crisis stems from US-Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28, 2026, followed by Tehran’s retaliation targeting Gulf states. Airspace over Iran, Iraq, Israel, Kuwait, Qatar, Syria, and Bahrain is shut to civilian traffic, severing vital aviation corridors. Dubai International Airport (DXB), typically handling over 1,000 flights daily, has halted normal operations, while Emirates, Qatar Airways, and Etihad have canceled or delayed thousands of flights.
Passengers scramble for alternatives, with Australia’s Flight Centre reporting a 75% surge in calls. Global Managing Director Andrew Stark noted customers rebooking via Singapore, China, and hubs like Houston. Asian carriers such as Cathay Pacific, Singapore Airlines, and Thai Airways see sharp demand increases. Cathay Pacific’s Hong Kong-London economy seats are unavailable until March 11, 2026, at around $2,705 one-way versus a typical $648. Qantas Sydney-London shows no economy availability until March 17 at $2,220.
Detours via the Caucasus, Afghanistan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, or Oman add 15 to 60 minutes, raising fuel costs by 3-8%. Subhas Menon, head of the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines, stated: Right now the whole of the Middle East is out of bounds, which is a high price for some airlines. If Europe can only be served at a high cost, airline profitability will be undermined.