U.S. airlines are calling off flights to several Middle Eastern destinations as tensions skyrocket between Israel and Iran.
United Airlines has grounded its daily flights between Newark Liberty International Airport and Dubai. The airline didn’t share when the route might resume, saying only that the move was due to the ongoing regional conflict. That Newark-to-Dubai route was United’s only path into the UAE.
American Airlines is temporarily suspending service from Philadelphia International Airport to Doha, Qatar. The suspension runs through June 22, with the last flight having taken off early Thursday morning.
Meanwhile, Delta Air Lines has already pulled the plug on its flights between JFK and Tel Aviv, and those won’t be back on the schedule until at least August 31.
This isn’t just about airline scheduling. Israel launched a military campaign it’s calling “Operation Rising Lion,” targeting nuclear and military facilities in Iran. According to Israeli officials, the strikes are based on intelligence suggesting Iran is close to developing nuclear weapons.
Iran fired back with missile strikes of its own, and since then, the airspace above Israel, Iran, Jordan, and Iraq has been closed off. Israel’s major international airport, Ben Gurion, is shut down for now.
International airlines aren’t taking any chances either. Emirates, Etihad Airways, and Lufthansa have reportedly canceled or rerouted several of their regional flights.
Trump is not staying on the sidelines. He’s reportedly considering a military strike to support Israel’s campaign. According to senior U.S. officials, Trump has demanded Iran’s unconditional surrender and will make a decision within the next two weeks.
The U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem has started making evacuation arrangements for Americans in Israel, including travel by cruise ships. Meanwhile, the State Department has upgraded its travel advisory for Israel to Level 4, warning citizens not to travel there due to conflict, terrorism, and civil unrest. Iran remains under a similar “Do Not Travel” status.
If you were planning a summer getaway to Dubai, Doha, or Tel Aviv, you’ll want to recheck your itinerary. With regional airspace closures and military tensions heating up, international travel in and out of the Middle East just got a lot more complicated—and a lot less safe.
Stay tuned for updates as this situation continues to unfold.
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