Security alert shuts skies: Top airlines cancel Middle East flights amid fears of Iran conflict

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Air France, British Airways, Lufthansa, and Swiss International Air Lines have suspended operations to Tel Aviv, with some carriers also halting services to destinations in Dubai, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, Turkiye Today reported.

The cancellations, affecting travellers across Europe and North America, began on Thursday and are expected to continue through the weekend.

OSINTdefender, an open-source intelligence monitor, said in a post on X that Air France, British Airways, Lufthansa, KLM, and several other international airlines had begun cancelling flights to and from Israel, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, citing security concerns in the Middle East.

In a separate post, OSINTdefender said Dutch flag carrier KLM had announced the suspension of all flights to and from the Middle East until further notice, citing the “geopolitical situation” in the region following consultations with officials in The Hague. The airline has also directed its international flights to avoid airspace over Iraq, Iran, Israel, and several Gulf nations, while cancelling all services to Tel Aviv, Dubai, Dammam, and Riyadh.

The developments come amid fears of escalating tensions after reports that the United States has increased its security presence around Iran, fuelling concerns of a wider conflict.

US President Donald Trump recently warned that a large naval force was heading towards Iran. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on Thursday, Trump said, “We have an armada. We have a massive fleet heading in that direction, and maybe we won’t have to use it,” Newsweek reported.

Meanwhile, the death toll from the Iranian government’s deadliest crackdown on protesters has risen to 5,137, according to aggregated data from the Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA). At least 7,402 people have been seriously injured, while the total number of arrests has climbed to 27,797, the agency said.

Iran has also enforced a near-total nationwide internet blackout since January 8. Monitoring group NetBlocks said the blackout has entered its third consecutive week, lasting 348 hours, according to HRANA.