Travel Chaos Spreads From Iran Conflict
Airline ticket prices are soaring on Asia-Europe routes after Gulf airport closures, with hundreds of thousands of tourists stranded. The US State Department is urging Americans to leave 14 Middle Eastern countries immediately and has sent evacuation planes. Travelers should expect ongoing disruptions and consider alternate routes.
The current travel crisis stems from a joint U.S.-Israeli military operation, "Epic Fury," which began on February 28, 2026, with large-scale strikes against targets in Iran. The attacks, aimed at Iran's nuclear facilities and leadership, resulted in the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. In retaliation, Iran launched widespread missile and drone attacks targeting U.S. military bases and civilian infrastructure in neighboring Gulf states. These strikes directly hit and damaged major international airports in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Doha, forcing them to shut down. The scale of the disruption is immense, with Dubai International Airport—the world's busiest for international travel—closed for four straight days. Since the conflict began, more than 21,300 flights have been canceled across seven major airports in the region, with airspace closures over at
