Emirates, Egypt, Ryanair, Kuwait, Lufthansa, Qatar, Cyprus, Air Canada and More Hit by Over 400 New Flight Delays and Cancellations Across Jordan, UAE, Turkey, Oman, and Others Amid Rising Iran–Israel Tensions and Operational Disruptions

Sunday, June 22, 2025

Over 400 new flight delays and cancellations have impacted major airlines including Emirates, EgyptAir, Ryanair, Kuwait Airways, Lufthansa, Qatar Airways, Cyprus Airways, and Air Canada due to a surge in operational disruptions and rising Iran–Israel tensions across Jordan, the UAE, Turkey, Oman, and other affected regions. As rerouted airspace, ground crew limitations, and heightened regional security compound across key hubs, passengers are facing mounting travel chaos, particularly in the Middle East where transit bottlenecks are intensifying by the hour.

Queen Alia International Airport – Amman, Jordan

At Queen Alia International Airport, operations came under severe pressure as 31 flights were cancelled and 29 delayed in a single day. Royal Jordanian, the flag carrier, was among the hardest hit, with 15 cancellations and 15 delays, crippling its network across the region.

Low-cost European airlines like Ryanair, Buzz, and Wizz Air suffered heavily as well, with each cancelling multiple flights — some reporting 100% cancellations for the day. Oman Air and Saudia also cancelled scheduled operations at Amman, citing rerouting complications and extended turnaround times.

Smaller regional carriers such as Jazeera Airways, Flynas, and Middle East Airlines faced delays of up to 40%, while Jordan Aviation and Pegasus Airlines reported minor disruptions. The congested ground operations and regional airspace rerouting created a cascade of delays that affected both inbound and outbound traffic through Jordan.

Dubai International Airport – UAE

Dubai International Airport saw the most significant volume of disruption, with 244 flights delayed and 12 cancelled, marking one of the busiest delay days so far this summer. Emirates, the UAE’s flagship airline, reported 91 delayed flights, many of them long-haul routes entangled in congested air corridors and regional detours caused by rising security concerns.

Low-cost carrier FlyDubai was equally impacted, with over 85 flights delayed, creating long queues and connection issues for travelers in transit. SpiceJet recorded delays on more than 60% of its services, while IndiGo, Gulf Air, and Air India Express all experienced measurable delays ranging between 14% to 43% of their daily schedules.

Airlines operating internationally through Dubai, including Air France, British Airways, KLM, Lufthansa, Air Canada, and Singapore Airlines, each reported one or more cancellations. Additional cancellations came from Kuwait Airways, Air Algerie, United Airlines, and Oman Air. Delays from Qatar Airways, Etihad, EgyptAir, Wizz Air Malta, and Cyprus Airways were also noted, showing just how widely the effects rippled through the terminal.

Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen Airport – Turkey

In Turkey, Istanbul’s Sabiha Gökçen International Airport logged 72 delays and 15 cancellations, driven largely by disruptions to Pegasus Airlines, which reported over 45 delays and all 15 cancellations at the terminal. Other Turkish and Gulf-region airlines including Turkish Airlines, AJet, and FlyDubai also reported sporadic delays due to airspace detours and congested departure slots.

The ripple effects extended to other carriers such as Smart Lynx and FlyDubai, who faced minor delays. Istanbul’s growing role as a connector between Europe and Asia made it vulnerable to operational shocks tied to Middle Eastern airspace restrictions and flight rerouting over tense borders.

Ben Gurion International Airport – Israel

At Ben Gurion International Airport, 10 cancellations and one delay were recorded. Most of the cancelled services came from Wizz Air and Wizz Air UK, which suspended numerous flights citing airspace concerns and heightened security protocols.

Although El Al, Israel’s national carrier, only reported a single minor delay, the broader atmosphere at the airport remained tense. The airspace implications from Iran–Israel friction have forced airlines to adopt cautious routing strategies, reducing flight frequency and increasing layover times.

Regional Tensions Fuel Airspace Disruptions

This latest surge in flight interruptions traces directly back to intensifying tensions between Iran and Israel, which have destabilized flight routing options across key corridors. Airlines operating in or near this volatile region are now rerouting aircraft, applying longer buffer zones, and in some cases, delaying or cancelling services outright to avoid conflict-prone airspace.

Operational challenges have been compounded by crew shortages, increased turnaround times, and mounting passenger volumes as summer travel peaks. Airlines are battling to keep schedules intact while navigating a web of political risk and logistical strain.

Queen Alia International Airport – Amman, Jordan

Total: 31 cancellations, 29 delays
Main Issues: Rerouted airspace, crew limitations, and operational strain

Royal Jordanian: 15 cancellations (13%), 15 delays (13%)Ryanair: 5 cancellations (55%)Saudia: 3 cancellations (42%)Buzz: 3 cancellations (100%)Wizz Air: 2 cancellations (100%)Oman Air: 2 cancellations (100%)Pegasus Airlines: 1 cancellation (16%)Jordan Aviation: 2 delays (33%)Jazeera Airways: 2 delays (40%)Flynas: 2 delays (33%)Middle East Airlines: 1 delay (25%)Qatar Airways: 4 delays (50%)Etihad Airways: 3 delays (75%)Dubai International Airport – UAE

Total: 12 cancellations, 244 delays
Main Issues: Regional airspace detours, overburdened ground operations

Emirates: 91 delays (19%)FlyDubai: 85 delays (29%)SpiceJet: 13 delays (61%)IndiGo: 13 delays (43%)Air India: 6 delays (26%)Air India Express: 4 delays (14%)Qatar Airways: 2 delays (20%)Etihad Airways: 3 delays (75%)Flynas: 2 delays (6%)Air Astana: 2 delays (40%)Middle East Airlines: 2 delays (33%)Gulf Air: 2 delays (14%)EgyptAir: 1 delay (12%)Air France: 2 cancellations (100%)British Airways: 2 cancellations (22%)United Airlines: 1 cancellation (50%)Kuwait Airways: 1 cancellation (12%)KLM: 1 cancellation (50%)Air Canada: 1 cancellation (50%)Singapore Airlines: 1 cancellation (50%)Air Algerie: 1 cancellation (50%)Belavia: 1 delay (100%)Air China: 1 delay (33%)Condor: 1 delay (50%)Cyprus Airways: 1 delay (100%)Lufthansa: 1 delay (50%)FlyOne: 1 delay (50%)Korean Air: 1 delay (50%)Aegean Airlines: 1 delay (50%)Wizz Air Malta: 2 delays (100%)Aeroflot: 2 delays (66%)Syrian Arab Airlines: 1 delay (33%)Uzbekistan Airways: 1 delay (50%)US-Bangla Airlines: 2 delays (66%)Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International – Turkey

Total: 15 cancellations, 72 delays
Main Issues: Airspace rerouting, congested departure slots

Pegasus Airlines: 15 cancellations (3%), 45 delays (9%)Turkish Airlines: 20 delays (11%)Smart Lynx: 3 delays (13%)FlyDubai: 2 delays (100%)AJet: 2 delays (2%)Ben Gurion International Airport – Israel

Total: 10 cancellations, 1 delay
Main Issues: Heightened security measures, airspace instability

Wizz Air: 9 cancellations (52%)Wizz Air UK: 1 cancellation (25%)El Al: 1 delay (20%)Carriers Most Affected

The disruption has touched dozens of airlines including:
Royal Jordanian, Ryanair, Wizz Air, Pegasus Airlines, Emirates, FlyDubai, Qatar Airways, Oman Air, Air Canada, Lufthansa, British Airways, Kuwait Airways, EgyptAir, Cyprus Airways, IndiGo, SpiceJet, Etihad, Turkish Airlines, KLM, Air India, United Airlines, and many more.

Over 400 new flight delays and cancellations have hit major airlines including Emirates, EgyptAir, Ryanair, Kuwait Airways, Lufthansa, Qatar Airways, Cyprus Airways, and Air Canada due to escalating Iran–Israel tensions and widespread operational disruptions across Jordan, the UAE, Turkey, Oman, and beyond.

What Travelers Should Know

With over 400 flights disrupted in under 24 hours, passengers traveling through affected regions should prepare for last-minute changes, expect longer connection windows, and check with airlines before departing.

As tensions in the region remain volatile, airlines are likely to continue adjusting routes and frequencies in real time — making flexibility and awareness essential for travelers navigating this complex summer season.