Travelers eyeing summer trips through Dubai, United Arab Emirates face fresh turbulence. American Airlines and United Airlines have temporarily dropped their only Gulf routes, citing escalating Israel-Iran hostilities that have forced wide swaths of Middle East airspace to close. Delta's existing suspension of Tel Aviv service remains in place, underscoring the growing operational and safety risks that carriers must weigh before venturing anywhere near the conflict zone.
Key Points
- American halts Philadelphia-Doha service through June 22.
- United pauses Newark-Dubai flights until further notice.
- Delta's New York-Tel Aviv suspension extended to August 31.
- FAA and EASA warn of "extreme risk" corridors over Iran and Israel.
- Why it matters: Thousands of U.S. travelers must rebook or reroute peak-season itineraries.
Snapshot: Route Suspensions Ripple Beyond the Gulf
American's daily Boeing 787-9 hop from Philadelphia to Doha, Qatar, last flew outbound on June 19, leaving passengers booked through Sunday scrambling for alternatives. United's daily Newark-Dubai link, one of its most lucrative premium routes, disappeared from schedules late Thursday and shows zero seat inventory for at least seven days. Together, the two routes moved roughly 2,600 passengers per week-a small slice of overall Gulf traffic yet a big headache for tour operators packaging Dubai, United Arab Emirates, as a one-stop gateway to Asia and Africa. Refunds are automatic, but re-accommodation hinges on already-full partners like Qatar Airways and Emirates.
Context: How the Conflict Closed the Skies
Israel's June 13 strikes on Iranian nuclear sites triggered retaliatory missile volleys that pushed risk levels well past the threshold that insurers, regulators, and airlines tolerate. Iran, Iraq, Israel, and Syria quickly issued full airspace closures; Jordan and Lebanon remained technically open but subject to Notams advising extreme caution. The FAA echoed Europe's EASA in warning U.S. operators to avoid the Persian Gulf Flight Information Region below FL320. Reroutes over Turkey and Saudi Arabia add up to 90 minutes of flight time on some Asia-Europe sectors and have already tightened capacity on the handful of safe corridors that remain.
US Carriers Race to Limit Exposure
American Airlines said its Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) to Doha, Qatar (DOH) suspension will last "at least through June 22 while conditions are assessed." The carrier continues to code-share with Qatar Airways but will not place crews overnight in Doha until the U.S. State Department lowers its risk rating. Over at United, flight UA164 from Newark (EWR) to Dubai, United Arab Emirates (DXB) was pulled after insurers demanded surcharges that erased the flight's profitability. United's travel-waiver covers tickets through July 5, with rebooking permission to fly partner Emirates via Milan or Athens.
Delta's absence from Tel Aviv stretches back to October 2024 unrest; the Atlanta-based airline quietly pushed the restart date to August 31 and broadened its waiver to include Cairo and Amman connections. Cargo operators are reacting too: FedEx has paused pickups bound for Israel and Iraq, and logistics analysts warn of higher freight rates if the Strait of Hormuz faces additional threats.
Behind the scenes, flight-planning teams now model multiple escape corridors and fuel contingencies to satisfy insurers. One major U.S. carrier executive, speaking on background, said the company will not restore Dubai or Doha service "until daily missile launches drop to zero for at least two weeks." That timeline could easily collide with back-to-school travel, raising the specter of wider trans-Atlantic seat shortages.
Analysis
For travelers, the immediate pain point is itinerary disruption rather than physical danger. Passengers ticketed on the suspended routes receive full refunds or the option to rebook on Oneworld and Star Alliance partners, but award seats are scarce and summer fares have already spiked 18 percent compared with 2024. Leisure travelers heading to beach resorts in Oman or the Maldives via Dubai, United Arab Emirates now face longer routings through Europe, while corporate road warriors bound for energy projects in Doha may pivot to videoconferencing. Insurance is another pressure point: many standard policies exclude war-related cancellations. Travelers should verify that their plan offers a "cancel for any reason" upgrade or an explicit hostile-acts rider before laying cash on future Gulf trips. Finally, the ripple effects extend far beyond the suspended cities; tighter airspace funnels flights into crowded corridors, raising the likelihood of weather-related delays at Istanbul, Riyadh, and even Athens. Expect knock-on schedule changes to persist well after the last rocket falls silent.
Final Thoughts
As long as missiles fly, major U.S. carriers will keep Dubai, United Arab Emirates and Doha off their route maps. Monitor airline travel-alert pages, sign up for real-time flight notifications, and build generous layovers into any multi-segment itinerary. If your journey hinges on a Gulf connection, lock in flexible tickets and review insurance fine print now. A bit of vigilance-and a Plan B routed through Europe-can save both money and stress should tensions flare again.