Evacuations Begin as Middle East Flights Stall

The war that started on Saturday forced many people to stay in the Middle East, and only a few flights are leaving now. UAE airlines like Etihad, Emirates, and FlyDubai started a limited number of trips from Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Most scheduled flights were still canceled: over 90 % of Dubai’s flights and more than half from Abu Dhabi. Air traffic has been shut down or heavily restricted over Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Syria. Even when the airspace reopens, airlines will wait until they are sure it is safe to fly again. The strikes have caused more than 11, 000 cancellations and affected over a million passengers. Major carriers such as Emirates, Etihad, Qatar Airways, and Saudia usually run about 1, 500 flights a day to the region.Dubai International Airport handled almost 95 million passengers last year, making it one of the world’s busiest airports. Abu Dhabi and Doha also serve as key hubs, and all three were hit by Iranian attacks over the weekend. Travelers stuck in transit include honeymooners, business people, and pilgrims. Some families are being moved to hotels or asked to stay put while authorities plan safe routes home. Governments from the UK, Germany, Indonesia, and the Philippines are arranging evacuations or alternate travel plans for their citizens. Airlines that run evacuation flights often get government support, and the carriers may share some of the financial risk. The situation remains fluid; flight schedules can change quickly as new information comes in. People who are stranded will need to keep checking for updates and follow official instructions.