Two drones fell near Dubai's main airport and Bahrain evacuated some planes, as attacks on infrastructure across the Gulf continued to disrupt air traffic.
Dubai International Airport (DXB) is the busiest hub for global passengers © Mena Today
Two drones fell near Dubai's main airport and Bahrain evacuated some planes, as attacks on infrastructure across the Gulf continued to disrupt air traffic.
The U.S.-Israel war against Iran has led to tens of thousands of flight cancellations, reroutings and schedule changes worldwide, shutting much of the Middle East’s airspace – including Qatar's – due to missile and drone threats.
That has plunged aviation into its worst crisis since the pandemic, as Dubai International Airport (DXB), the busiest hub for global passengers, and other regional airports are critical transit points for long-haul travel.
The conflict has also disrupted a key oil export corridor, leading to a spike in jet fuel prices, pushing fares higher on some routes and deepening concern about a broader hit to travel demand. Time-sensitive air cargo was also heavily affected.
Highlighting the ripple effects of the conflict beyond the Middle East, the government in Vietnam warned on Wednesday that domestic airlines may be at risk of fuel shortages as soon as next month.
TWO DRONES FALL NEAR DUBAI AIRPORT
Bahrain's Civil Aviation Affairs said on Wednesday that several Gulf Air aircraft without passengers, and some cargo airplanes, were relocated to alternative airports to "ensure the continuity and efficiency of air operations" during the crisis.
It did not provide further details. Gulf Air was not immediately available for comment.
Tracking data on FlightRadar24 showed several passenger jets moving to locations in Saudi Arabia over the past 24 hours.
Dubai's media office confirmed two drones fell near Dubai airport, but said air traffic was operating as normal. Reuters witnesses said there was no visible damage to the airport. Four people were injured.
The attack marked a renewed threat after DXB airport sustained damage on the first day of the conflict, alongside Abu Dhabi and Kuwait's international airports.
Regional carriers like Dubai's Emirates and Abu Dhabi's Etihad, as well as Qatar Airways, have resumed some flights but were still operating well below capacity.
Daily flights by the main United Arab Emirates airlines topped 600 over the weekend, but the rising number of flights flattened before dipping slightly on Tuesday, Flightradar24 data shows.
By Federico Maccioni and Maha El Dahan
Russia has secretly helped Iran develop advanced supersonic cruise missiles, in what the Financial Times describes as one of the most significant known transfers of strategic military technology from Moscow to Tehran, according to an investigation published Wednesday.
NATO member Turkey would consider taking its relations with the China and Russia-led security bloc, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, to a higher level, President Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday.
The U.S. and Iran found themselves back in a war footing on Wednesday after the most significant exchange in weeks, with Washington threatening even more devastating strikes while Iran protested an attack that it said killed five and wounded dozens of civilians at a wedding.
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