Several U.S. airlines have extended or imposed new suspensions on flights to and from the Middle East as the violent conflict between Israel and Iran continues to intensify.
United Airlines has announced a halt to its daily service between Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey and Dubai. The airline cited ongoing regional conflict as the reason for this move, though no timeline was offered for when these flights might resume. Currently, United operates its only flights to Dubai through Newark, underscoring the disruption’s significance.
American Airlines also revealed a temporary suspension of its route from Philadelphia International Airport to Doha, Qatar. This suspension will remain in effect through June 22, according to a spokesperson from American Airlines who spoke with CBS News. The last flight to Doha before the suspension took off from Philadelphia early Thursday morning.
Delta Air Lines has similarly suspended its services, halting flights between New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport and Tel Aviv, Israel. The airline said the pause will extend until at least August 31. Delta’s suspension follows escalating safety concerns related to the intensifying conflict in the region.
Air travel disruptions are not limited to U.S. carriers. International airlines have also taken action in response to the hostilities. Emirates, Etihad Airways, and Lufthansa are among the major carriers that have canceled some of their regional routes. According to aviation news website AviationA2Z, the Middle East’s volatile security landscape has forced many airlines to re-evaluate flight paths and schedules.
In Israel, Ben Gurion International Airport, the country’s main aviation hub, remains closed. On the other hand, U.S.-based carriers do not operate flights to Iran’s primary airport, Tehran Imam Khomeini International Airport. Still, flight activity across the broader region has seen a ripple effect.
These developments come in the wake of Israel launching a military campaign known as “Operation Rising Lion” against Iran. Israel has reportedly been targeting Iranian nuclear and military facilities since late last week. The Israeli government claims that intelligence assessments suggest Iran is approaching the development of nuclear weapons. In response, Iran has unleashed a series of retaliatory missile strikes against Israeli targets.
The hostilities have led to the closure of airspace over multiple countries in the region. As of now, airspace remains restricted above Israel, Jordan, Iran, and Iraq. The Israeli Ministry of Transportation confirmed that these closures will continue until further notice, underscoring the widespread nature of the disruption and the heightened level of caution.
On the political front, President Donald Trump has taken a forceful stance, calling for Iran’s “unconditional surrender.” According to senior intelligence and Defense Department sources who spoke with CBS News, Trump is currently deliberating whether the United States should carry out direct strikes on Iran and formally enter Israel’s ongoing military offensive.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt added further weight to this possibility, stating on Thursday that President Trump is expected to reach a decision within the next two weeks regarding potential U.S. military action. “The president will make a decision on whether to order a strike within the next two weeks,” Leavitt said.
Amid the intensifying military actions and regional instability, the U.S. government is also taking measures to protect its citizens in Israel. The U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem notified Americans on Thursday that plans are underway to facilitate the departure of private U.S. citizens from the country. Some individuals have already been evacuated using cruise ships.
Meanwhile, the State Department has escalated its travel warnings for the region. Israel is now under a Level 4 “Do Not Travel” advisory, citing the risk of “armed conflict, terrorism and civil unrest.” The advisory strongly discourages Americans from entering the country until further notice. Iran has also long been under the same highest-level travel warning. The State Department emphasized that U.S. citizens should not travel to Iran due to threats including “terrorism, civil unrest, kidnapping, arbitrary arrest of U.S. citizens and wrongful detention.”
This growing list of advisories highlights the increasingly hazardous nature of the region for travelers. Coupled with the broadening airline suspensions and airport closures, the current climate has made air travel in and out of the Middle East highly uncertain.
The conflict has clearly moved beyond bilateral tensions and now threatens to pull in broader international involvement. With the possibility of direct U.S. military engagement on the table and global airlines halting their services, the geopolitical stakes have risen dramatically.
Airline industry insiders note that such suspensions can have lasting operational and financial implications. While safety is the priority, re-routing flights, canceling schedules, and managing stranded passengers place considerable strain on carriers. Additionally, travelers with plans involving Middle Eastern destinations are being advised to stay updated through airline alerts and government travel notices.
In the background of these unfolding events, diplomatic efforts appear to be lagging. While public and private channels of communication may still be active between international actors, the public posture from key players—especially Israel and the United States—suggests that escalation, rather than de-escalation, is the more likely short-term outcome.
The air travel industry, often an early indicator of geopolitical risk, continues to adjust to the developing situation. With more than a dozen international airlines modifying their schedules or suspending flights altogether, the consequences of the Israel-Iran conflict are already being felt far beyond the battlefield.
While it remains unclear how long these disruptions will last, what is certain is the unpredictable and rapidly changing nature of the conflict. Travelers, airlines, and governments alike are watching closely, aware that conditions could evolve significantly in a matter of days—or even hours. The airspace closures, the military operations, and the possible entry of additional nations into the fray all contribute to a tense and precarious environment that shows no sign of stabilizing soon.
In the coming days, the world will be watching to see not only how the conflict on the ground unfolds, but also whether the skies above the Middle East can reopen safely and allow for the resumption of civilian air travel. Until then, passengers and airlines must prepare for ongoing disruption and uncertainty.