On February 28, 2026, a major military escalation erupted across the Middle East, sending shockwaves through global air travel and putting thousands of travelers, crew members, and corporate itineraries at immediate risk.
Following military strikes launched by the United States and Israel against Iran, Tehran retaliated with an unprecedented wave of missile and drone attacks targeting US military installations across the Persian Gulf. Explosions were reported in the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and beyond. In the UAE alone, missile interceptions were seen over Abu Dhabi’s financial district, while residents in Dubai reported multiple blasts throughout the day. A fire broke out in the Palm Jumeirah area of Dubai, and tragically, at least one fatality was confirmed in Abu Dhabi from falling missile debris.
The impact on aviation was immediate and severe. Dubai International Airport, the world’s busiest hub for international passengers, suspended all flight operations until further notice, along with Al Maktoum International Airport. Qatar closed its airspace, and multiple Gulf states followed with partial or full airspace restrictions. Major carriers including Emirates, Qatar Airways, Lufthansa, Turkish Airlines, and Air Arabia cancelled or rerouted hundreds of flights. The European Aviation Safety Agency issued a Conflict Zone Information Bulletin covering the entire Middle East and Gulf region, advising all airlines against operating in affected airspace.
For the maritime industry, the disruption carries particular weight. The Gulf region serves as a critical transit hub for crew changes, with thousands of seafarers passing through Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Doha every week en route to vessels worldwide. When these hubs shut down, the ripple effect reaches every corner of global shipping operations.
Anchor Travel Group: Built for Moments Like This
At Anchor Travel Group, our 24/7/365 operational model is not a marketing slogan. It is the foundation of everything we do. Born from the demands of maritime logistics, where crew changes happen at any hour and vessels do not wait for office hours, our around-the-clock readiness is precisely what makes moments like these manageable for our clients.
From the first reports of the escalation, our team was fully mobilized. Every active booking involving Gulf transit or Middle Eastern destinations was immediately reviewed. Affected travelers received proactive communication from their dedicated account managers, not automated emails, but personal calls and direct messages with specific rebooking options already prepared.
What We Are Doing Right Now
Our response covers every aspect of the disruption. We are monitoring airspace closures, airport statuses, and airline schedule changes in real time as the situation evolves hour by hour. For affected travelers, we are identifying and securing alternative routings that bypass the Gulf entirely, utilizing European, Asian, and African transit hubs to maintain crew change schedules and corporate travel commitments.
For clients with travelers currently stranded in the Gulf region, we are arranging emergency hotel accommodation, ground transportation, and continuous status updates until flights resume. We are also working directly with airline partners to secure priority rebooking on the earliest available connections once airspace reopens.
For maritime clients specifically, we are coordinating with vessel operators to adjust crew change timelines where necessary, ensuring that alternative plans are in place before the current situation creates operational gaps on board.
Why 24/7/365 Matters
Crises like this one remind us why the maritime industry demands a travel partner that never sleeps. The difference between a travel agency that operates during business hours and one that operates around the clock becomes starkly apparent at moments like 3:00 AM on a Saturday, when airspace closes without warning and hundreds of crew members are mid-transit.
This is not the first crisis we have navigated on behalf of our clients, and it will not be the last. From pandemic-era travel restrictions to volcanic ash clouds to geopolitical disruptions, the Anchor Travel Group team has consistently demonstrated that our value lies not just in booking tickets, but in solving problems when the stakes are highest.
Guidance for Travelers and Travel Managers
If you have travelers currently in the Gulf region, ensure they are in contact with their travel management provider and have access to emergency support. If you have upcoming itineraries routing through the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, or any affected area, we strongly recommend reviewing those plans immediately and considering alternative options.
For crew changes scheduled through Gulf hubs in the coming days and weeks, contingency planning should begin now, even if airspace reopens quickly. The backlog of cancelled and rerouted flights will create cascading delays that may take days to fully resolve.
We Are Here
In every moment, through every crisis — we stand by your side. 24/7/365.
If you need immediate assistance or want to discuss contingency plans for your upcoming travel requirements, do not hesitate to contact us:
24/7 Hotline: +30 6988 100 909 Email: [email protected]
Anchor Travel Group Your Journey Is Our Mission
