Air traffic at two of the world’s busiest airports — Doha and Dubai — was severely disrupted on Tuesday (June 24), with thousands of travelers stuck in long queues following massive delays and cancellations. The disruption stemmed from the temporary closure of airspace by Qatar, Bahrain, and Kuwait on Monday night after Iran launched a strike on a U.S. military base in Doha. The closure forced airlines to cancel or reroute hundreds of flights, leaving airports overwhelmed and passengers stranded. Dubai airports briefly suspended operations as well.

Though U.S. President Donald Trump announced a ceasefire between Israel and Iran, clashes continued, with casualties reported in both nations. At Doha’s Hamad International Airport, chaos unfolded as passengers stood in lines stretching nearly 200 meters. Lily Rogers, a 21-year-old psychology student heading to Southeast Asia, reported waiting in line for over nine hours without food—only water was provided. Virgin Australia estimated that over 25,000 passengers were stuck at the airport.

Tensions flared as passengers argued and cut lines, a Reuters witness noted. In total, around 250 flights were cancelled and 238 delayed in Doha, according to FlightRadar24. Dubai International faced similar issues, with 145 flight cancellations and more than 450 delays. Qatar Airways said it was gradually restoring its operations but warned of continued disruptions through June 26. Dubai officials declined to comment.

Busy Regional Hub: The Middle East remains a critical aviation hub, connecting Europe and Asia. Since the Russia-Ukraine conflict began, the region has become even more vital as airlines avoid airspace over both countries. In 2023, Dubai handled over 92 million passengers, averaging 250,000 daily. The recent escalation between Israel and Iran had already prompted airlines such as British Airways and Lufthansa to suspend certain routes. Sundays U.S. strike on Iran caused further cutbacks, even affecting typically stable hubs like Dubai. The resulting airspace restrictions have impacted international routes globally, particularly as most passengers passing through Hamad Airport are in transit — only 22% had Doha as their final stop in 2024.

Air India canceled several transatlantic and European routes on Monday, citing the narrow corridor between India and the West. This is especially difficult for Indian airlines, which are currently barred from using Pakistani airspace due to recent tensions. Air India plans to resume those flights once airspace restrictions are lifted. Other carriers, like flydubai, warned of continued delays due to congestion. It’s extremely frustrating, said Julien Moutte, a Paris-bound passenger who had been stranded in Doha for 15 hours.

Disclaimer: This image is taken from Reuters.