Israel’s missile strikes on Iranian nuclear and military targets early Friday, June 13, 2025, have thrown air travel across the Middle East and beyond into chaos, as airlines scramble to cancel, delay, or reroute flights amid widespread airspace closures and escalating security concerns.

The Israeli operation, codenamed “Rising Lion,” targeted key Iranian facilities and killed several top Iranian military commanders, prompting Iran, Iraq, and Jordan to immediately shut their airspace, while Israel closed Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport indefinitely.

Major Disruptions and Airlines Affected

Thousands of passengers have been stranded or forced to land in unexpected destinations as airlines vacated the skies over Israel, Iran, Iraq, and Jordan. Air India, Emirates, Qatar Airways, Lufthansa, and United Airlines were among the carriers that diverted or canceled flights, with some planes forced to return to their points of origin mid-flight. U.S. carriers Delta and United turned back flights from New York to Tel Aviv over the Atlantic as the news broke.

Israeli flag carrier El Al suspended all flights to and from Israel, and began moving aircraft out of the country for safety, while Israir and Arkia also evacuated their fleets from Tel Aviv. In the UAE, Emirates, Etihad, flydubai, and Air Arabia canceled dozens of flights to destinations including Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Israel, Russia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan.

Airports and Airspace Closures: Expanded Details

The Israeli military offensive against Iran has led to sweeping closures of airports and airspace across the Middle East, creating widespread disruption for airlines and passengers.

Ben Gurion Airport (Tel Aviv, Israel)

• Ben Gurion Airport, Israel’s main international gateway, was closed to all arrivals and departures early Friday, June 13, 2025, following Israel’s strikes on Iranian targets.
• The closure is indefinite, with some reports suggesting it may last three to four days, though the Airports Authority has not issued an official timeline.
• All flights scheduled to land at Ben Gurion were either diverted to nearby airports such as Paphos (Cyprus), Athens (Greece), or Rome (Italy), or returned to their points of origin.
• The airport was fully evacuated as part of Operation Rising Lion, and the departure board was marked entirely in red, indicating universal cancellations.
• Israeli carriers El Al, Arkia, and Israir suspended all operations, advised passengers not to come to the airport, and halted new bookings until at least the end of June.
• Passengers stranded abroad have reported confusion and a lack of assistance, with many scrambling to arrange accommodation and access necessary medication.

Iranian, Iraqi, Jordanian, and Syrian Airspace

• Iran, Iraq, and Jordan all closed their airspace in response to the escalation, and Syria’s airspace also saw a significant reduction in commercial traffic.
• Iran’s civil aviation authority suspended all domestic and international flights, with Tehran’s Mehrabad Airport closed until at least Saturday morning, according to state media.
• Jordan’s Queen Alia International Airport in Amman was also shut down, with no specified reopening date; travelers were advised to check directly with airlines for updates.
• The closure of these airspaces has forced airlines to reroute flights, often resulting in significant delays and longer flight paths.
• Major UAE Airports (Dubai DXB, DWC, Abu Dhabi Zayed International): Reported delays, cancellations, and rerouting, with passengers urged to check directly with airlines for updates.

Major Airlines and Routes Impacted

Airlines have responded by suspending or diverting flights across the region:

• Emirates canceled flights to and from Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, and Israel, with dozens of services disrupted at Dubai International and Al Maktoum International airports.
• Etihad Airways canceled flights between Abu Dhabi and Tel Aviv and delayed other regional services.
• flydubai suspended operations to Amman, Beirut, Damascus, Iran, and Israel, with many flights rerouted or returned to departure airports.
• Air Arabia halted flights to Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Israel, Russia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan.
• Qatar Airways temporarily canceled flights to Iran and Iraq.
• Turkish Airlines diverted some flights to Baku, Azerbaijan.
• El Al and other Israeli carriers suspended all flights, evacuated aircraft from Tel Aviv, and stopped new bookings until at least the end of June.
• Delta and United Airlines canceled flights to Tel Aviv and turned back planes mid-journey.
• Lufthansa suspended flights to Tel Aviv and Tehran until July 31, and to Jordan and Lebanon until at least June 20.
• Wizz Air and Ryanair halted flights to Israel.
• Air India diverted or returned more than a dozen flights, affecting routes from New York, London, Vancouver, and Washington, D.C..
• Aegean Airlines canceled all flights to and from Tel Aviv for June 13.

Full List of Affected Airlines and Destinations

Operational and Safety Concerns

The shutdown comes at a critical time as airlines were ramping up for the summer travel season, amplifying the impact on travelers and airline operations. Flightradar24 data showed a dramatic drop in flights over the affected region, with some aircraft spending hours in the air before being forced to return to their origin airports. Airlines are offering travel vouchers and waiving change fees for affected passengers.

Escalating Security Risks

The attacks and subsequent airspace closures have heightened security risks, with Israel’s defense forces on high alert for retaliation and Iran reportedly launching drones toward Israel in response. The U.S. has evacuated embassy staff across the region, and airlines are bracing for further disruptions if the conflict intensifies.

Travel Advisory

Passengers are strongly advised to check directly with airlines and airports for the latest updates before traveling, as the situation remains fluid and further cancellations or rerouting are expected.

Croatia is ramping up efforts to strengthen direct air links with the United States, aiming to boost tourism and accessibility between the two nations. The country’s Foreign Minister, Gordan Grlić Radman, recently engaged with local leaders in Florida to explore the “potential establishment of nonstop flights between Croatian and American airports,” signaling a renewed push to enhance transatlantic connectivity.

Long-haul markets, particularly the US, remain vital to Croatia’s tourism growth strategy. The Croatian National Tourist Board emphasized the importance of actively encouraging new routes to improve accessibility for American travelers. This push aligns with the rising numbers of visitors from the US, with over 260,000 Americans journeying to Croatia in the first half of the year—a notable 16% increase compared to the same period last year.

At the forefront of these efforts is Dubrovnik Airport, currently the only Croatian gateway offering nonstop flights to the US through United Airlines’ daily service from Newark throughout most of the summer. Dubrovnik previously welcomed Delta flights from New York’s JFK for a single season in 2021 and American Airlines’ Philadelphia route in 2019. Viktor Šober, CEO of Dubrovnik Airport, highlighted the urgency of expanding these connections: “We are the only airport in Croatia with nonstop service to the US.While currently connected to New York, one route is proving insufficient. We need another, similar to what we had a few years ago.”

However, Šober pointed to significant challenges: “The primary obstacle is the shortage of aircraft and delays in the arrival of new jets due to manufacturing and supply chain issues. It’s a complex situation, making it difficult to secure these flights. Nonetheless, I am confident that within the next year or two, we will have something concrete.”

Looking ahead, major US carriers are gearing up to announce their network plans for the 2026 summer season. American Airlines has already revealed new daily routes from Philadelphia to Budapest and Prague, as well as flights between Dallas and Athens, operated with Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners.

Delta is set to launch West Coast services from Los Angeles to Barcelona and Rome next year, with a broader expansion plan expected in September. United Airlines typically unveils its network growth plans in early October, leaving the industry hopeful for further additions connecting Croatia and the US.

As demand for direct flights continues to rise, Croatia’s commitment to expanding nonstop services with American cities promises to enhance travel convenience, support tourism growth, and strengthen transatlantic ties in the coming years.

Riding high on a blockbuster first half, Cebu Pacific is set to add more flights to four important foreign routes to meet the surging travel demand.

Starting October 26, the low-cost carrier will add a Sunday flight to Bangkok, Thailand, increasing options for travelers seeking a Southeast Asian getaway. Just two days later, on October 28, flights between Manila and Da Nang, Vietnam, will ramp up to an impressive 10 times weekly.

For Filipinos heading down under, Cebu Pacific will boost its Manila-Melbourne service to five flights weekly, starting December 12, offering greater flexibility for leisure and business travelers alike. Meanwhile, winter adventurers can look forward to daily flights to Sapporo, Japan, operating from December 10 through February 27, 2026, perfect for those wanting to experience Japan’s snowy season.

Cebu Pacific president and chief commercial officer Xander Lao emphasized the benefits of the expansion: “As travel demand continues to rise, these expanded services allow us to better connect Filipinos to the rest of the world and welcome more visitors to the Philippines.”

He added that the increased connectivity not only enhances convenience but also stimulates tourism, unlocks business opportunities, and strengthens economic ties across the Asia-Pacific region.
Last week’s financial results confirmed the airline’s growth momentum, with a remarkable 153 percent jump in net income to P8.97 billion, fueled by a surge in passenger numbers.

With these new and enhanced flight services, Cebu Pacific is poised to play a key role in the country’s post-pandemic travel recovery and regional integration.

On July 26, 2025, Maldives marked its 60th Independence Day with a landmark event: the grand opening of the long-awaited new passenger terminal at Velana International Airport (MLE). President Mohamed Muizzu hailed the $585 million facility as “a pillar of economic independence,” spotlighting the terminal’s pivotal role in transforming the island nation’s tourism-driven economy.

Spanning 72,000 square meters and designed to accommodate 7.5 million passengers annually—more than triple the previous capacity—the terminal is the largest building ever constructed in the Maldives. It features 47 check-in counters, six self-service kiosks, 20 immigration counters, six boarding gates, and 12 aerobridges, along with state-of-the-art baggage handling and real-time tracking systems. The design elegantly blends modern architecture with Maldivian motifs, reflecting the natural beauty and culture of the islands.

Tourism accounts for roughly 21% of the Maldives’ GDP, and this expansion aims to eliminate infrastructure bottlenecks that previously restrained growth. According to the World Bank’s April 2025 report, the facility could bolster average economic growth by 5.2% in the medium term, while the International Monetary Fund expects the expanded terminal to sustain tourism momentum crucial to the country’s prosperity.

The project has a complex political and financial history. Originally initiated with India’s GMR Group in 2010, the contract was canceled in 2012 amid political shifts, leading to alternate funding from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the UAE, and OPEC development funds alongside national budget contributions. These delays and shifting partnerships have significantly increased Maldives’ foreign debt, which now exceeds $8 billion.

Recent years saw diplomatic strains with India, including a 2024 “Boycott Maldives” campaign. However, relations have warmed considerably post Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 2025 visit, with tourism officials targeting 300,000 Indian visitors in 2025 through enhanced air connectivity and marketing featuring Bollywood star Katrina Kaif. Early 2025 arrivals rose 9%, fueled by strong interest from China and Europe, signaling a recovery and expansion in key markets.

The terminal’s inauguration was celebrated nationwide with dazzling drone light shows, fireworks, and cultural performances across Malé and neighboring islands, drawing some 6,000 guests.

With this state-of-the-art terminal now operational, Maldives is poised to solidify its standing as a premier global destination, supporting the government’s ambitious $5 billion tourism revenue target for the year. Experts and officials alike regard the enhanced airport capacity and facilities as essential to accommodating growing tourist numbers, diversifying market segments such as multi-generational travel, MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions), adventure, and wellness tourism, and securing the nation’s economic future.

Abu Dhabi's Zayed International Airport (AUH) has reached a significant milestone by securing Level 3 accreditation in the Airports Council International (ACI) Customer Experience Accreditation programme, awarded in July 2025. This achievement highlights the airport’s unwavering commitment to delivering world-class guest experiences and reflects its progress in integrating customer experience into every facet of operations, placing passengers at the core of its service philosophy.

The accreditation comes amid strong passenger growth, with AUH welcoming 15.5 million passengers in the first half of 2025—a 13.2% year-on-year increase. This follows impressive growth rates of 28.1% in 2024 and 44.5% in 2023. Elena Sorlini, Managing Director and CEO of Abu Dhabi Airports, noted, “As we celebrate 17 consecutive quarters of growth, including a strong performance in the first half of 2025, we remain sharply focused on enhancing the guest experience. Achieving Level 3 accreditation demonstrates our ability to balance expansion with service excellence.”

To earn the Level 3 status, AUH introduced several passenger-centric initiatives praised by ACI. These include dedicated passenger focus groups to gather traveller insights and a guest shadowing programme where staff experience the end-to-end airport journey from a passenger’s viewpoint. Enhanced collaboration is fostered through internal sharing of Voice of the Customer reports and strong cooperation with service partners, embedding a customer-centric approach across the operational ecosystem.

The ACI accreditation, the only global programme evaluating how airports integrate customer experience into their core strategies, reflects a deeper cultural transformation at Zayed International Airport. Employees, stakeholders, and passengers actively contribute to shaping the guest journey, underscoring a commitment to continuous improvement.

This achievement reaffirms Abu Dhabi Airports’ vision of elevating every passenger touchpoint through innovation, collaboration, and service excellence, setting new benchmarks in the global aviation industry.

A 25-year-old Chinese national is slated to face court on August 10 following his arrest for allegedly stealing from a fellow passenger aboard a flight from Dubai to Singapore.

The incident came to light early on August 8 at around 5:30 a.m., when the police received a report regarding a suspected theft in the business class cabin of the flight.

Preliminary investigations revealed that while the victim was asleep, his wife witnessed the suspect allegedly removing the victim’s bag from the overhead compartment. Upon being questioned by the victim’s wife, the man promptly returned the bag but aroused suspicion.

The victim was then alerted, and after the plane landed at Changi Airport, authorities from the Airport Police Division confronted the suspect. Unable to provide a satisfactory explanation for his actions, the man was arrested before he could board his next flight.

The specific airline involved has not been confirmed, though the route from Dubai International Airport to Changi Airport is served by Emirates and Singapore Airlines.

If found guilty, the suspect faces a potential prison sentence of up to three years, a fine, or both. This case highlights the vigilance of passengers and the swift response by law enforcement in safeguarding travel security.