Unrest in the Middle East has caused major disruptions for global air travel and has left many passengers stranded at airports. The recent joint attack by the U. S. and Israel on Iran, known as Operation Epic Fury, has led to flight cancellations and travel waivers from major airlines.
Emirates and Etihad Airways, two of the largest carriers in the region, have temporarily suspended operations to and from Dubai. Emirates has announced that it will resume a limited number of flights on Monday, prioritizing customers with earlier bookings. Etihad has also suspended all scheduled commercial flights until March 4th, with some exceptions for cargo and repatriation flights.
American Airlines has issued travel waivers for passengers traveling to, through, or from Abu Dhabi, Amman, Bahrain, Doha, Dubai, and Larnaca. These waivers will waive change fees for passengers who purchased tickets on or before February 27th and are scheduled to travel between February 28th and March 15th. They must also be able to travel between February 28th and March 29th without changing their origin or destination city. Rebooking in the same cabin or paying the fare difference, as well as canceling the trip for a refund, are also options for affected customers.
Similarly, Delta Air Lines has canceled flights between New York and Tel Aviv through March 8th, with the possibility of extending the cancellation. Customers affected by these cancellations will receive notifications, and those scheduled to travel between February 28th and March 31st can reschedule or cancel their reservation without penalty. United Airlines has also canceled service to Dubai and Tel Aviv through March 4th and March 6th, respectively, and has issued two travel waiver notices for these destinations as well as airports in Abu Dhabi, Beirut, and Erbil. These waivers will allow customers to reschedule their trip without change fees or fare differences for original travel dates through March 31st.
It is important for passengers to check with their airlines for updates on flight cancellations and travel waivers, as the situation in the Middle East remains unstable. The safety and security of passengers remain a top priority for all airlines, and they are taking necessary precautions to ensure the well-being of their customers.