Air cargo, shipping, and global supply chains are facing renewed disruption as escalating tensions between the U.S., Israel, and Iran have triggered strikes and prompted widespread airspace closures across the Middle East.
The sudden loss of key flight corridors and heightened regional risk has forced carriers across modes to adjust operations rapidly, with disruptions hitting dedicated freighters, belly‑hold capacity, and major shipping lanes.
Major airlines in the region and beyond have cancelled or diverted hundreds of flights, while major Gulf hubs have temporarily suspended operations in response to the closures and attacks.
Ocean carriers are rerouting vessels to avoid high-risk areas, only weeks after some lines had begun cautiously restoring limited transits through the Red Sea. The renewed diversions are adding transit time, cost, and operational complexity across global supply chains and further tightening lift on Asia–Europe and Asia–U.S. trade flows.
At least eight countries — including Iran, Israel, Iraq, Jordan, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) — closed their airspace as the conflict escalated, forcing airlines to cancel flights, divert long-haul routes, and suspend operations across affected corridors.
Airlines suspend operations to the Middle East
Cathay Pacific, United Airlines, Air India, Lufthansa, Philippine Airlines and several other carriers have cancelled or diverted flights to the region, while major Gulf airlines — including Qatar Airways, Emirates, and Etihad Airways — have suspended services amid widespread Middle East airspace closures.
Airspace over Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Israel, Bahrain was "virtually empty," according to flight-tracking data cited by Reuters.
"In view of the developing situation in the Middle East, all Cathay Pacific flights to and from Dubai from February 28, 2026 up to and including March 5, 2026 have been cancelled," the Hong Kong flag carrier said, adding the same for its Riyadh operations until March 3.
On February 27, Qatar Airways Cargo announced: "Qatar Airways Cargo flights temporarily suspended due to Qatari airspace closure. Qatar Airways flights to, and from, Doha have been temporarily suspended due to the closure of Qatari airspace."
Separately, it clarified that "freighter flights that are not scheduled to operate through Doha are operating."
"The airline is working closely with government stakeholders and the relevant authorities to support impacted customers and will resume operations when the airspace re-opens. Once usual operations resume, we anticipate delays to our flight schedule," the carrier added.
Emirates SkyCargo also announced temporary flight suspensions due to airspace closures. "Due to the current uncertain situation and evolving airspace restrictions our flights are suspended until 1500hrs UAE time on Monday, March 2 and we are placing temporary restrictions on the booking and acceptance of all new shipments on our flights for the next 24 hours. This measure is being implemented to ensure operational stability and compliance with regulatory directives."
The cargo carrier said it is "actively monitoring the situation, engaging with relevant authorities, and adjusting our operations in line with the latest developments [as] Emirates adheres to all regulatory requirements and follows guidance issued by aviation authorities."
Etihad Airways also suspended Abu Dhabi departures until March 1 as arrivals were cancelled as the situation in the Middle East remains fluid.
United Cargo said it is adjusting operations following the latest military action in the Middle East. The carrier has cancelled all flights to Tel Aviv through March 5 and all departures from Tel Aviv through March 6, and will operate a single rescue flight from Athens to Newark on March 1. Services to and from Dubai are also suspended, with all flights to DXB cancelled through March 2 and all flights from DXB cancelled through March 4.
Oman Air Cargo said it is facing "limited operational disruption" on some Gulf Cooperation Council routes following regional airspace closures, while services to Europe and the Asia‑Pacific continue as scheduled with rerouting and occasional minor delays. The carrier has temporarily restricted the carriage of perishables as a precaution, though general cargo operations remain unaffected.
Dubai International Airport, one of the world’s busiest cargo hubs, sustained damage during Iran's retaliatory strikes, prompting a temporary shutdown. Abu Dhabi's Zayed International Airport also suffered a drone strike that caused casualties, while Kuwait, Doha, and Manama experienced related airspace closures and blast impacts that disrupted airport operations across the region.
Shipping lines divert back to Cape of Good Hope
Shipping lines have also been forced into widespread rerouting and, in some cases, temporary suspensions as the latest Middle East conflict has made key maritime corridors unsafe.
Carriers began diverting vessels away from the Strait of Hormuz after Iranian strikes triggered port shutdowns and left more than 170 containerships stranded in the area, with major operators such as MSC, CMA CGM and Hapag‑Lloyd ordering ships to seek safe shelter.
CMA CGM has issued new guidance to customers after the latest escalation in regional security risks, outlining immediate operational changes across its Middle East network.
"All vessels inside Gulf, and bound to Gulf, have been instructed with immediate effect to proceed to shelter," CMA CGMA said. "Passage through the Suez Canal has been suspended until further notice, and vessels will be rerouted via the Cape of Good Hope."
Maersk has also paused all future Trans-Suez sailings after the latest escalation in Middle East security risks, triggering immediate rerouting of key services away from the Bab el-Strait.
"Due to the deteriorating security situation in the Middle East region following the escalating military conflict, we have decided – in close coordination with our security partners – to pause future Trans-Suez sailings through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait for the time being," the Danish ocean carrier said.
It added that until further, all sailings on the ME11 (Middle East-India to Mediterranean) and MECL (Middle East-India to East Coast US) services will be rerouted around the Cape of Good Hope.
Maersk also warned of possible disruption to Maersk services in UAE, Oman and Qatar. It said that its warehousing facilities in UAE will be closed on March 2, 2026 as a precautionary measure and following the government shelter guidance. Its airline and landside partners are also experiencing disruption to services which may have a knock-on impact on the carrier's operations.
Analysts say there is no clear timeline for when the U.S.–Israel–Iran strike cycle will end, with the conflict still escalating and no diplomatic off‑ramps yet visible.
The uncertainty will likely weigh on global transport networks, with air cargo facing prolonged airspace closures and rerouting, and ocean carriers absorbing longer Cape of Good transits, higher insurance premiums, and wider schedule disruption.