Gulf airspace closed to commercial traffic on Sunday as Iran launched ballistic missiles and drones targeting assets and allies across the region, escalating tensions following a joint military operation by the United States and Israel against Iranian leadership and military sites. The immediate closure has prompted major airlines to suspend services to Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Riyadh.
Air China, China Eastern, and China Southern have introduced flexible rebooking and refund policies for passengers affected by the disruptions, covering tickets purchased between February 24 and March 15. VariFlight data indicates at least 18 round-trip flights have been cancelled between March 1 and 3, impacting key routes including Beijing–Dubai, Shanghai–Riyadh, and Guangzhou–Abu Dhabi.
The escalating conflict follows a joint strike by the U.S. And Israel on Saturday, described by U.S. President Donald Trump as an effort to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. Trump, in a video statement, called on Iranian forces to surrender and urged the Iranian population to overthrow the current government. According to reports, the operation aimed to “destroy their missiles and raze their missile industry to the ground.”
Iran responded by targeting Israel, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Jordan with ballistic missiles and drones. Fresh attacks on “the heart of Tehran” were reported by Israel on Sunday, with Iranian attacks continuing across the region.
China’s Consular Department has re-issued travel alerts, advising citizens to avoid non-essential travel to Iran and neighboring countries and to register their itineraries through the 12308 app. Mobility teams with personnel in the Gulf have been advised to review emergency evacuation plans and confirm local contact points.
Corporate travel managers are adapting to the situation, with some activating ‘split-team’ protocols to mitigate the risk of staff being stranded. Freight forwarders are warning of tightening belly-hold cargo capacity, which is expected to drive up spot rates for high-tech components moving between China and Europe. Diversions via Istanbul and Doha are possible, but add three to five hours of flight time.
The United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres condemned the military escalation, calling for an immediate cessation of hostilities and de-escalation. He warned that failure to do so risks a wider regional conflict with grave consequences for civilians and regional stability. At an emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council on Saturday, Guterres stated that U.S. And Israeli airstrikes reportedly killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Khamenei.
The U.S. And Israel clashed with Iran at the emergency Security Council meeting, with the Iranian ambassador, Amir Saeid Iravani, claiming hundreds of civilians were killed and wounded in the strikes. The UK stated it played no role in the attacks.
Industry analysts suggest that if the airspace shutdown persists beyond one week, airlines may redeploy wide-body aircraft to North American or Southeast Asian routes, potentially increasing seat availability in those markets. VisaHQ is offering expedited visa and transit permit applications for travelers needing to reroute through alternative hubs.
