Choosing a Middle East itinerary right now is less about the “best airline” and more about the least risky routing. If you’re traveling in the next few weeks, the safest play is usually a single-carrier, one-stop itinerary via a big hub (Dubai, Doha, Istanbul, or Riyadh) with daytime flights where offered. If you must connect, build in extra buffer and avoid tight minimum connections.
The current disruption wave, tied to US-Iran tensions, is forcing airlines into a mix of temporary suspensions, daylight-only operations, and longer reroutes. That translates into higher misconnect risk, more last-minute schedule changes, and more pressure on already-busy hubs. For travelers, the “best” choice often comes down to which carrier can still get you there with the fewest moving pieces—and how much protection you have when things go sideways.
The quick comparison: who’s the better pick right now?
| Factor | European network carriers (KLM, Lufthansa Group, Air France) | North American carriers (United, Air Canada) | Regional carriers (Emirates/flydubai, Turkish Airlines, others) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Operational posture this week | Mixed: some routes resumed, others restricted or suspended | More blunt: cancellations to Tel Aviv reported | Mixed: some cancellations to Iran, many flights rerouted |
| Daytime-only flying | Common on select routes (notably to Tel Aviv/Amman for some) | Not highlighted in current notices | Varies by carrier and route |
| Ability to reaccommodate you | Strong within alliances and partner networks | Strong within their own networks, weaker if service is suspended | Often strong at their hubs, but can mean longer routings |
| Misconnect risk at hubs | Moderate to high if schedules are retimed | Moderate if you’re forced onto fewer options | Can be high at mega-hubs during delay spikes |
| Best for points and status | Great for Flying Blue, Miles & More, and partner credit | Great for MileagePlus and Aeroplan earn | Great for hub-based itineraries; partner credit varies |
| Best “risk” profile right now | Good if your route is operating and you accept schedule shifts | Risky if your route is cancelled and options are limited | Good if you pick fewer segments and earlier departures |
1) What’s going on: why Middle East flying feels shaky again
Across the Middle East, airlines are responding to airspace safety concerns with three traveler-visible moves. First, outright suspensions to certain destinations, most notably Iran-related flying. Second, daytime-only operations on routes where nighttime risk is viewed as higher. Third, reroutes that add meaningful block time.
This episode is operationally louder than the past few months because the changes are happening in clusters. When multiple carriers retime departures, avoid certain airspace, and swap aircraft rotations at the same time, small delays don’t stay small. They spread across hubs and into onward connections.
You’re most exposed if you’re connecting via the region’s biggest hubs, or if you’re headed to destinations with specific restrictions. Travelers bound for Israel, Iran, the UAE, and nearby routings are seeing the most churn. Even if your destination is unaffected, your connection may not be.
2) The contenders: how each “option set” is operating right now
This is the moment where reading airline language carefully matters. “Suspended” usually means no flights, which forces rebooking. “Restricted” can mean fewer flights, different timings, or daylight-only rules. “Codeshare available” may still require a hub stop and a partner ticket.
KLM: mostly back, but with clear guardrails
KLM has resumed most routes, but with targeted limits. Tel Aviv flying is currently direct-only, with no stopovers in Cyprus until February 15. Dubai service is also restricted to daylight operations through at least February 15.
For itineraries, that can mean fewer departure choices and tighter reaccommodation options. If your original flight time was moved into the night, expect a retime or a rebooking offer.
Mileage note: KLM flights credit cleanly to Flying Blue. If you’re chasing XP, schedule changes can still preserve your earning, but reroutes may alter fare class availability.
Lufthansa Group: Tehran suspended, daytime patterns elsewhere
Lufthansa has suspended all Tehran service until March 29. It is still offering codeshare options to Tehran via Emirates, routing through Dubai. Lufthansa is also limiting Tel Aviv and Amman flying to daytime operations due to nighttime risk.
Austrian Airlines has extended Tehran cancellations through February 16, and also shifted Tel Aviv and Amman to daytime schedules.
For travelers, Lufthansa Group can be a strong choice when your destination is operating, since rebooking within the group is often smoother. The risk is that a “reasonable” connection can become unreasonable after a retime, especially if your inbound arrives late.
Mileage note: Lufthansa Group tickets are attractive if you’re earning toward Miles & More status. But codeshare re-accommodation can change who issues the ticket and which chart applies if you later use miles.
Air France: Dubai temporarily suspended
Air France has temporarily suspended service to Dubai. If Dubai is your endpoint, this is the clearest “avoid” signal among the big European options.
If you’re booked already, focus on rebooking that preserves alliance protection. SkyTeam partners may help, but your alternatives can involve longer routings and added connections.
Mileage note: this can be a pain for Flying Blue loyalists. If you get pushed onto non-SkyTeam metal, your earn rate may change.
United and Air Canada: Tel Aviv cancellations
United Airlines and Air Canada have cancelled flights to Tel Aviv in the current wave. That’s a big deal because it compresses your nonstop options and pushes you toward one-stop itineraries via Europe or the Gulf.
If you’re starting in the USA, this often means your “best” alternative is not another North American carrier. It’s a partner or a non-aligned regional airline with a stable schedule.
Mileage note: if you’re earning MileagePlus or Aeroplan, partner rebookings can be fine. But fare class matters, and some partner tickets earn less than you expect.
Regional carriers: cancellations to Iran, reroutes elsewhere
Several regional players have cancelled flights to Iran during uncertainty, including flydubai and Turkish Airlines. At the same time, many Gulf and regional carriers are rerouting around affected airspace, adding meaningful time.
The practical effect is that your flight may still operate, but it may arrive later. That can break a tight connection, especially at a banked hub.
3) How big is this disruption, in traveler terms?
In a single 24-hour window, the region saw at least 1,370 delays and 16 cancellations across major hubs. Those numbers matter because they show a system under strain, not a single-airport blip.
Banked hubs amplify problems fast. Dubai International is a prime example. When one inbound wave arrives late, multiple outbound flights depart late. That then pushes the next inbound wave late. Crews time out, aircraft rotations slip, and gates get reshuffled.
What you’ll notice on travel day is simple: more gate changes, longer taxi or holding, and tighter connection margins. Even if your airline is “operating normally,” the network around it might not be.
4) Why airlines are doing this: advisories, NOTAMs, and risk thresholds
Airlines don’t need a full airspace closure to change routes. They respond to conflict-zone risk through internal safety and insurance rules. Those rules can be stricter than regulators require.
The EASA Conflict Zone Information Bulletin (January 16) advised operators not to fly within Iran’s Tehran FIR at any altitude. It also urged heightened caution in nearby airspace hosting U.S. military facilities. For European carriers, that kind of guidance carries real weight.
The U.S. FAA issued a precautionary NOTAM on February 2 for Cyprus’s Nicosia FIR. It urges caution but does not impose a blanket ban. That distinction matters. “Caution” still leads many operators to reroute, especially at night.
Restrictions can vary by carrier for practical reasons. Aircraft range, alternate airports, crew duty limits, and partner networks all shape what an airline can safely schedule. That’s why one airline can keep flying with detours, while another suspends service.
⚠️ Heads Up: A “codeshare option” is not the same as your flight operating. It can mean a partner routing, new connection point, and different rebooking rules.
5) The workarounds you’ll actually feel: fuel stops, longer blocks, and fewer segments
The most visible workaround is the technical refuelling stop. Wizz Air has used stops in Larnaca or Thessaloniki on certain westbound departures from Dubai and Abu Dhabi. For passengers, that usually means extra time on board and schedule padding. It can also mean a crew change.
Reroutes are the other big lever. Some carriers are adding 30–90 minutes to journeys by avoiding certain airspace. That doesn’t sound huge until it collides with your connection. An extra hour can turn a safe layover into a sprint, or a missed flight.
Airlines are also simplifying networks. Some are suspending certain destinations outright. Others are shifting to daylight-only patterns. That cuts the number of usable itineraries each day.
Your best mitigation is to remove fragility from your trip. Pick fewer segments, leave earlier in the day, and avoid the last connection of the night. If an overnight becomes necessary, you want it in a city with lots of hotel inventory.
So which should you choose? Scenarios that match real trips
Here’s how I’d think about it if you’re booking now, or rebooking under a waiver.
Choose KLM if…
- You’re flying to or via the Netherlands and want SkyTeam protection.
- Your itinerary fits the current direct-only and daytime limits on affected routes.
- You value earning toward Flying Blue status, and you want clean crediting.
KLM is a solid choice when your route is operating. The constraint is flexibility. Fewer departures mean fewer same-day fixes.
Choose Lufthansa Group if…
- You want a strong European rebooking machine and can accept retimes.
- You’re not trying to fly Lufthansa metal to Tehran right now, given the March 29 suspension.
- You’re earning Miles & More and want continuity in ticketing and status credit.
Lufthansa’s partner option to Tehran via Emirates can work. It also adds connection complexity in Dubai.
Choose Air France if…
- You’re not going to Dubai and your route is still operating.
- You want Flying Blue earning and a Paris connection.
- You have flexibility if a suspension expands.
With Dubai suspended, Air France is not the easy answer for UAE-bound trips today.
Choose United or Air Canada if…
- You’re not relying on their Tel Aviv service, given the cancellations.
- You’re confident your trip can be rerouted on partners without extra stops.
- You value award redeposit and change policies tied to your loyalty program.
For Israel travel in this window, they’re more of a ticketing and rebooking tool than a reliable nonstop.
Choose a regional carrier routing if…
- Your priority is simply getting there with the fewest segments.
- You can pick earlier departures and leave slack in your connection plan.
- You’re comfortable with longer routings and possible arrival shifts.
Regional hubs can be efficient. They can also be chaos during banked delay spikes.
Price, points, and comfort: what actually changes during disruption
Pricing can jump when capacity is pulled. Suspensions remove seats from the market. That usually raises last-minute fares and squeezes award space. If you’re paying cash, compare a one-stop option against a two-stop “deal.” The cheaper fare can backfire if you misconnect.
On points, this is when flexible programs shine. If you can book awards that allow changes, you can react faster to schedule reshuffles. Partner awards can also open routing options when a carrier’s own flights are suspended.
Comfort is mostly about aircraft and timing, but disruption adds another layer. A longer reroute can turn an already-long flight into a fatigue test. If premium economy or business is within reach, it can be worth it for sleep. It also helps if you face a surprise overnight.
Timing and outlook: what may normalize first, and what may linger
The EASA advisory runs through mid-February 2026, but airlines are already signaling that adjusted operations could extend into spring. In practice, frequencies often return before routings do. Detours can linger after headlines fade.
Refunds and flexible rebooking are on the table, but they vary by carrier and ticket type. That’s especially true for basic economy-style fares and third-party bookings. Monitor your booking in the airline app, and re-check your connection after every schedule update.
📅 Key Date: Several current restrictions are published through February 15 for specific routings, including KLM’s limits on Tel Aviv and daylight Dubai operations.
If you’re booking or rebooking today, aim for one stop, earlier departures, and longer layovers than you’d normally tolerate. In this environment, the “best airline” is the one that still operates your route—and can reroute you quickly when the next schedule change hits.
Middle East Flight Disruptions Continue Amid US-Iran Tensions, Affecting KLM Routes
Current Middle East flight disruptions are characterized by temporary suspensions, daylight-only flying, and significant rerouting to avoid risky airspace. This operational shift, driven by safety advisories from EASA and the FAA, has increased misconnect risks at major hubs. Travelers are advised to book single-carrier itineraries with extra connection time and to prioritize daytime departures to mitigate the impact of last-minute schedule changes and regional volatility.
