Timeline
March 1, 2026 — March 5, 2026
Business
Timeline: How US-Israel Strikes on Iran Triggered Global Aviation Crisis Over 5 Days
Following US and Israeli military strikes on Iran on February 28, 2026, which reportedly killed Supreme Leader Khamenei, airspace closures across the Middle East triggered a cascading global aviation crisis. This timeline tracks how the conflict evolved from initial strikes to widespread flight cancellations affecting hundreds of thousands of passengers worldwide, with airlines grounding operations through late March.
15 events · 5 days · 30 source articles
Sat, Feb 28, 2026
Major
US and Israel Launch Strikes on Iran, Killing Supreme Leader Khamenei
The United States and Israel launched coordinated military strikes against Iran. Iranian state TV confirmed that Supreme Leader Khamenei, along with his daughter and grandchild, were killed in the attacks. The strikes triggered immediate airspace closures across Iran and neighboring regions, setting off a global aviation crisis.
Sat, Feb 28, 2026
Major
410 Indian Domestic Flights Cancelled on First Day
Due to airspace restrictions over Iran and parts of the Middle East, 410 flights of Indian domestic carriers were cancelled on February 28. The aviation ministry warned that the disruptions would continue, with an estimated 444 flights expected to be cancelled the following day. Multiple countries closed their airspace as missiles were fired across the region.
Sun, Mar 1, 2026
Major
Hundreds of Global Flights Cancelled; Gulf Carriers Hit Hard
Gulf carriers Emirates, Qatar Airways, and Etihad, which handle approximately 90,000 transit passengers daily connecting the Americas, Europe, Africa, and Asia, were the most severely impacted. Several hundred flights worldwide to the Middle East were cancelled due to continued airspace closures. Indian carriers cancelled 444 flights as predicted.
Sun, Mar 1, 2026
Moderate
Air India Suspends Key International Routes
Air India cancelled flights on several key international routes to Europe and North America, including Delhi-London, New York, and Toronto services. The airline cited ongoing risk assessments and the need to ensure passenger and staff safety amid the evolving Middle East situation. India's Ministry of Civil Aviation established a 24x7 Passenger Assistance Control Room.
Sun, Mar 1, 2026
Moderate
Delhi Airport Reports 100 International Flights Cancelled
Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport saw at least 100 international flights cancelled, including 60 departures and 40 arrivals. The airport issued advisories urging passengers to verify flight status before heading to the airport. Operational challenges stemmed directly from the US and Israeli strikes on Iran and resulting airspace restrictions.
Sun, Mar 1, 2026
Major
Heathrow Cancels 43% of Middle East Flights
Analytics company Cirium reported that 24 of 56 scheduled flights from London Heathrow to the Middle East were cancelled—representing 43% of departures to the region. All three flights to Israel and both flights to Bahrain were among those axed. Qatar routes saw eight of nine flights cancelled, while UAE routes had nine of 17 cancelled.
Sun, Mar 1, 2026
Moderate
Belgium and European Countries Issue Travel Warnings
Belgium's foreign ministry confirmed it was not yet organizing evacuations but was studying all possibilities. The government advised Belgian citizens in Iran, Iraq, Syria, and UAE to remain vigilant and avoid non-essential travel. Belgium updated travel advisories, discouraging travel to multiple Middle Eastern countries and urging citizens to follow local authority instructions.
Mon, Mar 2, 2026
Moderate
Aviation Stocks Plunge as Crisis Deepens
Aviation and tourism stocks suffered sharp sell-offs. IndiGo shares fell as much as 7.5%, SpiceJet declined over 7%, Ixigo plunged 13.5%, and Easy Trip Planners slipped 9%. The stock market reacted to the intensifying conflict and prolonged disruption to regional air traffic, with multiple countries maintaining closed airspace.
Mon, Mar 2, 2026
Moderate
Over 4,000 Swiss Tourists Stranded in Middle East
Swiss authorities reported more than 4,000 Swiss tourists were blocked in the Middle East due to flight cancellations and airspace restrictions. The situation highlighted the widespread impact on European travelers caught in the region when the crisis erupted, with limited options for immediate return.
Mon, Mar 2, 2026
Major
Air Canada Suspends Tel Aviv and Dubai Routes Until March 23
Air Canada announced the cancellation of all flights to and from Dubai and Tel Aviv, with services suspended until March 23, 2026. The airline urged customers in these regions not to travel to airports and emphasized that passenger safety was the absolute priority. Customers were allowed to modify reservations without fees.
Tue, Mar 3, 2026
Moderate
Limited Middle East Operations Resume; 80 Flights Still Cancelled in Delhi
Some airlines began resuming limited Middle East operations, with first relief flights carrying stranded Indian passengers landing from Abu Dhabi and Dubai. However, Delhi airport still saw 80 international flight cancellations on Tuesday. Airlines announced additional relief flights to help evacuate stranded passengers, though operations remained severely limited.
Tue, Mar 3, 2026
Minor
Swiss Cancels Dubai Flights
Swiss International Air Lines joined the growing list of carriers suspending Middle East operations, cancelling its flights to Dubai. The move reflected the continued uncertainty and risk assessment by European carriers regarding operations in the Gulf region.
Wed, Mar 4, 2026
Moderate
At Least 5,200 Swiss Citizens Blocked in Middle East
Swiss authorities updated their estimate of stranded citizens to at least 5,200 people blocked in the Middle East, an increase from the earlier 4,000 figure. The growing numbers reflected both new travelers becoming stranded and improved accounting of citizens in the region seeking assistance.
Thu, Mar 5, 2026
Major
IndiGo Cancels Over 500 Flights in Four Days
Indian airline IndiGo confirmed in a regulatory filing that it had cancelled more than 500 flights between February 28 and March 3 to Middle East and select international destinations. The airline cited continuous changes and restrictions in airspace over Iran and Gulf countries as the reason for the unprecedented cancellations.
Thu, Mar 5, 2026
Major
Heathrow Faces 'Operational Challenge' with Hundreds of Cancellations and Parked Aircraft
The head of London Heathrow Airport acknowledged the Mideast war was creating a significant operational challenge, with the hub facing hundreds of ongoing flight cancellations and a growing fleet of parked aircraft unable to operate Middle East routes. The statement indicated the crisis showed no signs of immediate resolution nearly a week after the initial strikes.
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