Since military action began in the region in late February, several governments have continued organizing evacuations of their citizens from Iran and nearby countries.
The disruption started when joint action by the United States and Israel targeted sites inside Iran, an event that followed weeks of American military buildup in the region beginning in late January. In the aftermath, several countries closed airspace or rerouted flights, and diplomatic missions coordinated with airlines and militaries to move civilians, foreign nationals and staff out of harm's way. Hundreds of thousands of people across the wider Middle East were affected by the resulting travel disruptions in the weeks that followed.
Governments in the Gulf and beyond have used a mix of charter flights, naval transport and coordination with neighboring states to carry out repatriations since then. The scale of the effort has been unusual for the region, reflecting how quickly air corridors and shipping lanes can be affected when tensions rise in a part of the world that handles a large share of global energy shipments.
Regional carriers and insurers have also had to adjust, rerouting flights around affected airspace and adjusting coverage for vessels moving through nearby waters. Officials in several countries have said normal travel patterns are gradually being restored as the situation stabilizes, though some routes remain affected months later.
Airlines and shipping companies are expected to keep adjusting routes as airspace restrictions ease, and diplomats will continue watching whether the broader security situation allows for a fuller return to normal travel.
Why did air travel get disrupted across the region?
When military tensions rise in the Middle East, airlines and governments often close or reroute around affected airspace as a precaution, which can affect flights well beyond the immediate area.