Middle East
Middle East Airspace Update: No Ceasefire, Kuwait Still Closed, Three Saudi Airports Shut After Houthi Attacks
As of August 25, 2026, Kuwait overflights remain closed until October 2 and three southern Saudi airports stay shut after Houthi attacks, while EASA advisories run through August 31.
Charter Industry 2026 a Tale of Two Stories, ACA CEO Hogben Says
Air Charter Association CEO Glenn Hogben said the charter industry's 2026 has been a tale of two stories, citing reduced Middle East demand for FBO, operator and maintenance services amid regional conflict.
U.S. Removes Syria From Terror Sponsor List, Opening Door to Civil Aviation Revival
The United States removed Syria from its state sponsors of terrorism list on Aug. 24, 2026, ending a designation in place since 1979 and easing access for airlines, lessors and financiers.
Ben Gurion Airport Chaos: Labor Dispute Halts Operations on Busiest Day as Warnings Were Ignored
A labor dispute at Israel Airports Authority halted key ground operations at Ben Gurion Airport for about two and a half hours on August 20, 2026, disrupting roughly 106,000 passengers across 620 flights.
Ben Gurion Airport Union Chief Denies Responsibility for Shutdown as Netanyahu Seeks to Expel Him from Likud
Ben-Gurion Airport union chairman Pinchas Idan denied causing the shutdown as Netanyahu petitioned Likud's Supreme Court to expel him, with damage estimated at NIS 25-30 million.
Global airlines slowly resume Middle East flights after US-Iran ceasefire, many suspensions extend to October and beyond
Following a US-Iran ceasefire, airlines including Lufthansa Group, British Airways, Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Wizz Air, Air Canada, KLM and Finnair are extending Dubai and other Middle East route suspensions into October 2026 and beyond.
Iran and Oman Outline Temporary Strait of Hormuz Shipping Corridor as US Launches Sweeping Iran Sanctions
Iran and Oman outlined a phased plan for a temporary Strait of Hormuz shipping corridor and demining effort, as the US launched sanctions on over 60 entities under Operation Economic Outcast.
Middle East Business Jet Market Forecast to Reach $12.79 Billion by 2029 at 5.8% CAGR
The Middle East business jet market was valued at $8.13 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach $12.79 billion by 2029, a 5.8% CAGR.
Middle East Airspace Under Strain as Rerouted Traffic, Conflict and Capacity Pressure Drive Delays at Gulf Hubs
Middle East airspace faces mounting disruption in 2026 as rerouted global traffic, regional conflict advisories and extreme weather strain Dubai, Doha and Abu Dhabi hubs.
Royal Jordanian Airlines Selects Ramco Systems Aviation Software to Support Operational Growth
Royal Jordanian Airlines selected Ramco Systems' aviation software platform to manage engineering, maintenance, supply chain, safety and compliance functions as it pursues growth.
Syria's aviation sector rebounds with new airline routes, fleet deal, and surge in overflights
Syrian Airlines signed a $250 million deal in August 2025 for 10 Airbus A320 jets as overflight traffic rose and twelve airlines resumed flights to Damascus by May.
Gulf Air Signs Letter of Intent for JetZero Z4 Blended-Wing Aircraft to Expand Europe and Asia Routes
Gulf Air signed a letter of intent at the Farnborough International Airshow for JetZero's Z4 blended-wing-body aircraft, securing preferential delivery positions in the early 2030s.
UAE Bans Sudanese Airlines from Dubai and Sharjah as Diplomatic Rift Widens
The UAE barred Sudanese carriers Badr Airlines and Tarco Aviation from Dubai and Sharjah, grounded a Sudanese airliner in Abu Dhabi, and stranded hundreds of passengers amid a diplomatic rift.
Flight Delays Surge at Doha's Hamad International as Middle East Airspace Restrictions Persist
Flight delays climbed at Doha's Hamad International and other Gulf hubs in August, with more than one hundred cancellations recorded at Jeddah's King Abdulaziz International Airport amid persistent conflict-related airspace restrictions.
Dubai Opens World's First Purpose-Built eVTOL Vertiport as Infrastructure Race Heats Up
Skyports Infrastructure and Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority opened a 33,400-square-foot purpose-built eVTOL vertiport in July, designed for 170,000 passengers and 42,000 aircraft movements annually.
ExecuJet Middle East Seeks PIC/Lead Commander for Dassault Falcon 7X in Dubai
ExecuJet Middle East posted a vacancy on 21 August 2026 for a Dubai-based Falcon 7X PIC requiring 4,000 total flight hours and 1,000 hours as pilot-in-command.
UAE Airlines Face Targeted Cancellations, Rerouting and Delays Amid Ongoing Gulf Tensions
Emirates, Etihad, Air Arabia and flydubai are rerouting flights and suspending select services as elevated Gulf airspace risk over Iran, Iraq, Lebanon and the Gulf of Oman persists into August.
Airspace Closures Cause 846 Flight Delays and 81 Cancellations Across Gulf Airports
Airspace restrictions across the Gulf triggered 846 flight delays and 81 cancellations at major airports on August 22-23, 2026, led by Dubai International with 344 delays.
Iran Airspace Partially Open on Paper but Avoided in Practice as of August 2026
Iran has formally reopened the eastern Tehran Flight Information Region to overflights while the western corridors stay closed, yet EASA still advises against flying in the Tehran FIR at any altitude.
US Iran Sanctions Dubbed 'Economic D-Day' Raise Aviation and Travel Risks Across Gulf Region
The United States has tightened sanctions on Iran in a campaign described as an 'Economic D-Day,' prompting airlines and cruise operators across Bahrain, the UAE and Oman to review Gulf routes.