Flights from LAX to Middle East Canceled Amid Iran Conflict

Several Middle East countries closed their airspace, stranding hundreds of thousands of travelers globally.

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

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Flights from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to destinations in the Middle East, including Dubai, Doha, and Tel Aviv, were canceled on Sunday after several Middle East countries closed their airspace amid a widening conflict between the United States, Israel, and Iran. The cancellations led to hundreds of thousands of travelers being stranded globally as airlines scrambled to rebook passengers and reopen routes.

Why it matters

The closure of airspace over the Middle East disrupts global travel and commerce, with major hubs like Dubai International Airport suspending service indefinitely. This highlights the broader geopolitical tensions in the region and the potential for such conflicts to have widespread impacts on transportation and the movement of people and goods.

The details

According to flight tracking website FlightAware, planes scheduled to depart LAX for Dubai, Doha, and Tel Aviv were grounded on Sunday. Qatar Airways, Emirates, and El Al all announced the cancellation of flights to and from their respective hubs, citing safety concerns. Dubai International Airport, one of the world's largest, also suspended service indefinitely after an unspecified 'incident' that damaged a concourse and injured four employees.

  • Flights were canceled on Sunday, March 2, 2026.
  • Emirates said all flights to and from Dubai were grounded until at least 3 p.m. local time on Monday, March 3, 2026.
  • El Al said all of its flights, along with those from its subsidiary Sundor, to and from Israel were canceled until at least 2 a.m. local time Wednesday, March 5, 2026.

The players

Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)

One of the busiest airports in the United States, located in Los Angeles, California.

Qatar Airways

A major international airline based in Doha, Qatar.

Emirates

A major international airline based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

El Al

The national airline of Israel.

Dubai International Airport

One of the largest and busiest airports in the world, located in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

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What they’re saying

“The safety of our passengers and employees is always our highest priority, and we apologise for any inconvenience caused.”

— Qatar Airways (Qatar Airways website)

“We are actively monitoring the situation and engaging with relevant authorities.”

— Emirates (Emirates website)

What’s next

Airlines are working to rebook affected passengers and reopen routes as soon as the airspace closures are lifted. The situation remains fluid, and travelers are advised to check with their airlines for the latest updates.

The takeaway

The cancellation of flights from LAX to the Middle East highlights the broader geopolitical tensions in the region and the potential for such conflicts to disrupt global travel and commerce. This incident underscores the importance of airlines and airports maintaining robust contingency plans to quickly respond to rapidly evolving situations that can impact air travel.