Flights rerouted, SFO hit
Airlines including Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Scoot and Lufthansa have adjusted routes to avoid Middle Eastern airspace, disrupting global connections to Europe and the Gulf. San Francisco International recorded 40 cancellations between March 15–17 that affected flights to Dubai, Doha, Miami and other U.S. connections. (travelandtourworld.com)(nomadlawyer.org)
Singapore Airlines says flights SQ494 (SIN–DXB) and SQ495 (DXB–SIN) were cancelled and listed as suspended through 28 March 2026 in a corporate advisory first posted 1 March and updated 11 March. (singaporeair.com) Scoot’s official notice lists TR596 (SIN–JED) and TR597 (JED–SIN) as cancelled through 28 March 2026 and shows the advisory was last updated on 17 March 2026. (flyscoot.com) Cathay Pacific has extended suspension of passenger and Cathay Cargo freighter services to Dubai and Riyadh through 30 April 2026, citing the “volatile situation in the Middle East” in announcements reported on 18 March. (bloomberg.com) Deutsche Lufthansa told Reuters it reallocated capacity from ten cancelled Middle Eastern destinations into extra services to places such as Singapore and Bangkok as of 6 March 2026, and CEO Carsten Spohr warned fuel costs and outlooks remain uncertain. (marketscreener.com) San Francisco International logged 40 confirmed cancellations from 15–17 March 2026 that Nomad Lawyer says grounded Emirates flight UAE226 (to Dubai) and Qatar flight QTR738 (to Doha) and produced cascading domestic impacts (Chicago 7 cancellations, Los Angeles 4, Miami 4). (nomadlawyer.org) Local reporting notes Qatar Airways suspended normal SFO–Doha services and ran limited return flights for citizens while broader Hamad International operations remained constrained. (kalw.org) Industry trackers and analysts report reroutes are adding measurable block time and cost: some operators are diverting via the Caucasus or around Egypt and Oman (detours variously estimated at about 15–60 minutes extra per sector), while separate coverage has recorded delays of 2–4 hours on longer Europe–Asia itineraries as hubs rebalance capacity and demand. (aerotime.aero) (airtraveler.club) Airlines and travel outlets say the disruption has already prompted carriers to add fuel surcharges or lift fares on affected corridors, with reports on 10–11 March 2026 noting carriers raised prices and adjusted schedules amid higher jet-fuel costs tied to the conflict. (msn.com)
