Dubai flight cancellations: American, European airlines suspend services to Middle East hubs

American and European airlines have begun pausing flights to destinations in the Arabian Gulf as Israel's conflict with Iran enters its second week and the US mulls joining the attacks on Iranian nuclear sites.

American Airlines Group Inc. suspended daily flights to Qatar's capital, Doha, as did Finnair Oyj, while United Airlines Holdings Inc. has paused service to Dubai because of military actions and heightened tensions in the area.

Air France-KLM said it canceled some Dubai flights this week, and British Airways said routes to Bahrain were halted to the end of the month due to operational constraints and airspace restrictions. Air Canada has suspended flights to Dubai, according to its website.

The airlines' decisions mark the first time in 20 months of heightened tensions in the Middle East that the region's busiest hubs have been affected by cancellations. Previous suspensions have been contained to countries surrounding Israel and the skies over nations where Iran's missiles pass.

The unprecedented moves highlight growing worries in a slice of the Middle East that is typically considered safe and sheltered from regional dislocations. Tehran has threatened to strike US bases in the Arabian Gulf if Washington gets involved and close down the Strait of Hormuz, a vital oil trade waterway it borders with the UAE and Oman.

Dubai, where Emirates is based, and Doha, home to Qatar Airways, are the two most important hubs in the Middle East for regional and particularly long-haul air travel, using their position as global gateways to process flights between the US, Europe and Asia.

The hazards of airlines flying into unstable regions have been underscored with recent events: an Azerbaijan Airlines passenger jet was hit with what was likely a Russian surface-to-air missile approaching Grozny in late 2024. It turned around and crashed in Kazakhstan, killing 38 people.

A decade ago, Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 was shot down over Ukraine by a Russian missile, killing 298 people.

American Airlines acted after the US embassy in Qatar warned US citizens in the country and its own personnel to "exercise increased vigilance". It advised them to be aware of their surroundings, avoid demonstrations and large gatherings, exercise caution at locations publicly associated with the US and to "keep a low profile", according to an advisory posted on the State Department website Thursday.

American's once-daily flight from Philadelphia to Doha is suspended until June 22, the airline said. The last flight from Doha to Philadelphia departed early Thursday.

"We will continue to monitor the situation with safety and security top of mind and will adjust our operation further as needed," American said.

United paused daily flights between its base at Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey and Dubai Thursday, and said it would resume the service "when it's safe". Delta Air Lines Inc. and United suspended flights from the US to Tel Aviv earlier this month after Israel launched air strikes against Iran.

Airspace disruptions were most severe on Friday in the region after Israel halted overflights and Iran ceased operations at its main airport in Tehran. Iraq, Syria, Jordan and Lebanon have gone back and forth between closing and opening airspace as Israel and Iran exchange fire.

Access to the Al Udeid Air Base also was restricted temporarily, according to the US embassy statement. The facility is used by forces from several countries. There are more than 45,000 US service members in the Middle East, spread out over 19 sites, according to the Council on Foreign Relations. Qatar hosts the largest US base in the region, while Bahrain is home to the US Navy's Fifth Fleet.