Middle East Air Freight Disruption Despite Partial Recovery

Qatar Airways has resumed operations from Doha following a temporary airspace closure triggered by Iranian missile attacks on US bases in Qatar and Iraq. The reopening has offered some relief, but flight schedules remain heavily disrupted, and wider instability across the Middle East continues to affect air freight flows.

The recent hostilities briefly grounded flights from Doha and contributed to a fresh wave of cancellations across the region, just days after US airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities escalated the conflict. Although a short-lived ceasefire between Iran and Israel allowed for a partial resumption of services, tensions have reignited, forcing airlines and cargo operators to remain cautious.

Qatari airspace reopened in the early hours, but Qatar Airways warned of significant delays as flights resumed and schedules were rebuilt. Meanwhile, Emirates SkyCargo confirmed it has begun uplifting additional fuel on flights from Dubai to allow for longer rerouting — a measure that could reduce payload and force the offloading of some shipments.

Despite these challenges, cargo operations in the region have proven relatively resilient. From Saturday to Monday, around 13,000 tonnes of air freight moved from the Middle East to Europe, only slightly down from early June levels. Capacity from Asia Pacific into the Middle East has even increased over the same period, climbing to 18,000 tonnes.

Airline Suspensions and Reroutes Continue
Passenger services, many of which carry belly-hold cargo, remain widely impacted. Airlines including British Airways, Air France KLM, Singapore Airlines, United Airlines, American Airlines, Air Canada, Finnair, and Air Astana have cancelled or suspended flights to key Gulf hubs such as Dubai, Doha, and Riyadh. Flights to Israel, Iraq, Iran, Lebanon, Jordan, and Syria also remain suspended due to the continuing risk.

Flight tracking data confirms extensive rerouting around Iranian and Iraqi airspace. Empty corridors now dominate the skies over key parts of the Middle East, with many services opting for longer paths via Egypt, Saudi Arabia, or the Caspian region adding time, fuel cost, and operational complexity.

While the overall air freight network remains intact, the situation is highly volatile. The risk of sudden airspace closures, GPS interference, and further retaliatory strikes remains high, particularly for carriers linked to the United States. Capacity constraints, schedule delays, and routing inefficiencies may persist until regional tensions ease.

We’re actively monitoring events, adjusting routings, and working with trusted partners to safeguard your shipments. If your supply chain is exposed to disruption in the Middle East, EMAIL our managing director, Andrew Smith, for clear advice and fast solutions.