Middle East Airspace Closures Disrupt Global Travel, airBaltic Suspends Dubai Flights

Military strikes in the Middle East have triggered widespread airspace closures, causing significant disruption to global air travel. Latvian airline airBaltic has announced the temporary suspension of all flights to and from Dubai, impacting travel plans for passengers through at least March 3, 2026.

Escalation and Airspace Restrictions

The crisis began on February 28, 2026, when Israel conducted strikes on targets within Iran [The Bulkhead Seat]. In response, both Israel and Iran immediately closed their airspace. The United States subsequently confirmed its involvement in the military actions. Following suit, Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Iraq, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates also closed their airspace to commercial traffic, with Syria partially closing its airspace near its border with Israel [The Bulkhead Seat]. This has effectively halted commercial overflights across a critical aviation corridor.

airBaltic Flight Cancellations

airBaltic has been directly affected by the airspace closures. All flights to and from Dubai have been canceled up to and including March 2, 2026. Flight BT792 from Dubai to Riga on March 3, 2026, has also been canceled [airBaltic], [The Bulkhead Seat].

Passenger Guidance

airBaltic advises passengers not to travel to the airport until the status of their flights has been confirmed. Passengers with scheduled flights before March 3, 2026, have the following options:

• Reservation Transfer: Passengers will be provided with a transfer to the nearest available flight.
• Ticket Refund: Passengers can request a full ticket refund through the airBaltic website.

Passengers who booked directly through the airBaltic website will be notified individually with further information. Those who purchased tickets through a travel agency should contact their agency directly. For assistance, airBaltic’s Call Center can be reached at +371 67280422 [The Bulkhead Seat].

Consular Assistance for Latvian Nationals

Latvian nationals are encouraged to register with the Consular Register via the Latvija.gov.lv portal or the “Travel Safely” mobile app. The Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Latvia provides 24-hour assistance to citizens abroad by phone at +371 26337711 or by email at palidziba@mfa.gov.lv [The Bulkhead Seat].

Broader Impact

The airspace closures have had a cascading effect on global aviation, with over 200 inbound flights to the Middle East canceled within hours of the escalation [The Bulkhead Seat]. Long-haul flights that typically utilize Middle Eastern airspace for overflight routes have been forced to divert or return to their origin airports.

airBaltic continues to strengthen its presence in Dubai during the winter season, increasing flight frequencies to Riga and Vilnius, with daily service to Riga and four weekly flights to Vilnius [Zawya].