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Thousands of passengers were stranded across the Middle East today as flight disruptions surged across Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, Egypt, UAE, Bahrain, and Israel, with over 1,400 cancellations and delays across Bahrain International Airport (91 cancellationss), Ben Gurion International Airport (53 cancellations), King Khalid International Airport (16 cancellations, 229 delays), King Abdulaziz International Airport (8 cancellations, 368 delays), Cairo International Airport (17 cancellations, 190 delays), Dubai International Airport (25 cancellations, 81 delays), and Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport (2 cancellations, 361 delays).
The most affected airlines include Pegasus Airlines (4 cancellations, 245 delays), Saudia (241 delays), Flynas (186 delays), Gulf Air (112 cancellations, 1 delay), flyadeal (89 delays), EgyptAir (12 cancellations, 57 delays), El Al (53 cancellations), and Emirates (48 delays).
Other major carriers such as Turkish Airlines, AJet, Air India, Qatar Airways, Flydubai, and Royal Jordanian also experienced operational disruptions.
The disruptions impacted key cities including Manama, Tel Aviv, Riyadh, Jeddah, Cairo, Dubai, and Istanbul, spanning across Bahrain, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, and Türkiye.

• Updated today: A total of 212 cancellations and 1229 delays were recorded across seven major international airports.
• King Abdulaziz International Airport (Jeddah) recorded the highest delays (368).
• Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport (Türkiye) followed closely with 361 delays and minimal cancellations (2).
• Bahrain International Airport saw the highest cancellations (91) with no delays.
• Pegasus Airlines and Saudia emerged as the top contributors to delays, while Gulf Air and El Al led cancellations.
• Disruptions were largely delay-driven, indicating congestion rather than full operational shutdowns.
• The impact was concentrated across the Middle East and surrounding regions, affecting both full-service and low-cost carriers.

Most Affected Airports

Bahrain International Airport

Bahrain’s main hub recorded 91 cancellations and zero delays, indicating a complete disruption pattern dominated by grounded flights, primarily driven by Gulf Air operations.

Ben Gurion International Airport

Tel Aviv’s primary airport reported 53 cancellations and no delays, reflecting a cancellation-heavy disruption pattern, with El Al accounting for the majority.

King Khalid International Airport

Riyadh experienced 229 delays and 16 cancellations, showing a mixed but delay-heavy disruption, with regional carriers contributing significantly to congestion.

King Abdulaziz International Airport

Jeddah recorded the highest number of delays (368) alongside 8 cancellations, highlighting severe operational congestion, particularly affecting Saudia and low-cost carriers.

Cairo International Airport

Cairo saw 190 delays and 17 cancellations, reflecting a balanced disruption, with EgyptAir leading both cancellations and delays.

Dubai International Airport

Dubai reported 81 delays and 25 cancellations, indicating a moderate but mixed disruption, with Flydubai and Emirates playing major roles.

Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport (Türkiye)

Istanbul’s secondary airport recorded 361 delays and only 2 cancellations, making it one of the most delay-affected hubs, driven heavily by Pegasus Airlines operations.

Airlines Most Affected by Flight Cancellations and Delays

Pegasus Airlines

Pegasus Airlines recorded 4 cancellations and 245 delays, particularly at Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport (Türkiye).

Saudia

Saudia experienced 241 delays with no cancellations, indicating significant operational congestion, especially across Riyadh and Jeddah.

Flynas

Flynas reported 186 delays, contributing heavily to disruption patterns across Riyadh, Jeddah, Cairo, and Istanbul (Türkiye).

Gulf Air

Gulf Air was the most cancellation-affected airline, with 112 cancellations and minimal delays (1), largely concentrated at Bahrain International Airport.

flyadeal

flyadeal recorded 89 delays, reflecting strong impact on low-cost operations, particularly in Saudi Arabian hubs.

EgyptAir

EgyptAir faced 12 cancellations and 57 delays, making it a key contributor to disruptions at Cairo International Airport.

El Al

El Al recorded 53 cancellations and no delays, highlighting a pure cancellation-driven disruption centered at Ben Gurion International Airport.

Emirates

Emirates experienced 48 delays without cancellations, indicating operational slowdown rather than flight grounding at Dubai International Airport.

What Can Impacted Passengers Do?

• Check real-time flight status through airline websites or airport portals before heading to the airport
• Stay in contact with airlines for rebooking or alternative travel arrangements
• Arrive early at airports to account for operational delays and congestion
• Keep essential items, documents, and medications in carry-on baggage
• Monitor official airline notifications for updates on cancellations or rescheduling
• Consider flexible travel plans where possible during disruption periods

Overview of Flight Cancellations

Flight disruptions in the Middle East across Manama, Tel Aviv, Riyadh, Jeddah, Cairo, Dubai, and Istanbul (Türkiye) reflect a region-wide operational strain, with both cancellations and delays impacting thousands of passengers.
Airlines such as Gulf Air, El Al, Pegasus Airlines, Saudia, EgyptAir, and Flynas were among the most affected, while others like Emirates, Turkish Airlines, AJet, and Flydubai experienced notable delays.
The highest cancellation volumes were concentrated at Bahrain International Airport and Ben Gurion International Airport, while delay-heavy congestion dominated operations at King Abdulaziz International Airport, King Khalid International Airport, Cairo International Airport, Dubai International Airport, and Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport (Türkiye).
Across Bahrain, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, and Türkiye, the disruptions highlight a complex mix of airline-specific operational challenges and broader regional congestion, with cities like Riyadh, Jeddah, Cairo, Dubai, Istanbul (Türkiye), Tel Aviv, and Manama repeatedly emerging as key pressure points in the aviation network today.

Source: Different airports and FlightAware