The first commercial flights were made in the major Middle East hubs on March 4, 2026 that offered a momentary relief to trapped passengers following four days of blanket closures due to the US-Israel attacks on Iran. Dubai International (DXB) and Abu Dhabi (AUH) airports announced fewer flights, Emirates operated flights to India, Europe and the US, 12, and Etihad gave clearances to 8 flights to Delhi and Mumbai. Qatar Airways had also introduced flights to London and Istanbul to Doha as an indication of insecure relief in the Hormuz crisis and Iranian retaliations.

​Recovery with a Limited Number of Security Scans.

The busiest international in terms of flights globally, DXB was reopened with the capacity of 20 percent, and IndiGo, Air India, and SpiceJet were given the first option to cater to the Indian demand of 3.5 million Indians stranded in the UAE. Dubai Police tweeted that the security screening is complete; there are no threats and no armed patrols and drones are permitted. AUH evacuations: 2000 Indians on first Etihad waves.

Doha preferred the US-Qatar traffic; Riyadh was sluggish. The impact continues to be experienced all over as 50 flights in London Heathrow have been diverted and 200 cancelled in the T3 Delhi. IATA is a 2 billion dollars loss-per-day menace; hull limit-cap of insurers is 10M-war-risk.

Missiles swept the runways; the Hormuz no fly zone reduced to 100nm radius. FAA lifted some of the bans; EASA does the same.

Nightmares of Passengers, Logistical Nightmares.

there were stranded fliers screaming: Mumbai families were reunited with 80 hours waiting time. Heart in mouth because the palm jumeirah blast released a Delhi resident by the name Rajesh Kumar whose Emirates plane landed 6 AM IST.

Backlogs crush: DXB 1.2 lakh pending, AUH 40,000. IndiGo will add 20 dailies; Vistara Amman-Delhi charters. Saudi NRIs (2.8M Indians) reserve slots, JED-RUH semi-function 5 March.

Fuel deficit hurts: Jet fuel 30% elevated; carriers trespass reserves. Crew fatigue breaches -DGCA crosses boundaries.

Regional Hubs Step Up

Royal Jordanian ferried 5,000 Indians across Aqaba brought by Amman (AMM); Modi-Jordan king call made. Muscat alternative Gulf Air; Bahrain (BAH) intends full restart, March 5, following US Navy patrols.

Iran airports shut; Tel Aviv (TLV) army. The global links are becoming unstable: Singapore-Chennai diversion costs 4 hours.

Economic Aftershock and Future.

Aviation suffers 8 billion; tourism loses its head-Dubai hotels are 70 per cent empty. Indigo stocks gain 5 per cent; SpiceJet demands fuel.

Prognosis: 50 per cent capacity on March 7 when Hormuz opens. Modi-Gulf captures NRI lanes UN encourages airspace pacts.

First wheels-up, but skies are tight. Soon relief in passengers is but dawning.