Major Disruption at London Airports Following Middle East Airstrikes
London's two busiest airports are experiencing significant flight cancellations today, March 1, 2026, following retaliatory airstrikes in Iran. According to aviation analytics company Cirium, twenty-four of the fifty-six flights scheduled to depart from Heathrow Airport to Middle Eastern destinations have been cancelled, representing nearly half of all scheduled services to the region.
Widespread Cancellations Across Multiple Airlines
The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office has issued warnings against all travel to the region, prompting major carriers including British Airways and Virgin Atlantic to ground services. All flights in and out of Dubai International and Al Maktoum International airports have been suspended indefinitely following damage to airport infrastructure.
From Heathrow, all three flights scheduled for Israel and two bound for Bahrain have been cancelled. The most affected destinations include Qatar, where eight of nine scheduled flights have been grounded, and the United Arab Emirates, with nine of seventeen flights cancelled. One of eight flights to Saudi Arabia and one of two departures to Jordan have also been affected.
Gatwick Airport Also Impacted
London Gatwick Airport is experiencing similar disruptions, with Emirates and Qantas flights to Dubai grounded alongside Qatar Airways routes to Doha and Air India's service to Amritsar. The cancellations come as Iran has launched ballistic missiles and drones at US assets and allies across the region, targeting Israel, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Jordan in retaliation for US-Israeli airstrikes on Saturday.
Specific Flight Cancellations at Heathrow
The following Heathrow departures have been confirmed as cancelled:
- 8:05am - Doha (Qatar Airways)
- 8:30am - Doha (Qatar Airways)
- 8:40am - Doha (Qatar Airways)
- 9:10am - Dubai (Emirates)
- 9:30am - Bahrain (Gulf Air)
- 12:00pm - Dubai (British Airways)
- 1:40pm - Dubai (Emirates)
- 1:50pm - Doha (British Airways)
- 2:15pm - Doha (Qatar Airways)
- 2:20pm - Tel Aviv (El Al)
- 2:55pm - Doha (Qatar Airways)
- 3:20pm - Amman (British Airways)
- 3:50pm - Dubai (Emirates)
- 4:00pm - Doha (Qatar Airways)
- 7:00pm - Dubai (Emirates)
- 7:20pm - Doha (British Airways)
- 8:20pm - Tel Aviv (British Airways)
- 8:20pm - Dubai (Emirates)
- 8:30pm - Dubai (British Airways)
- 9:30pm - Doha (Qatar Airways)
- 9:35pm - Dubai (British Airways)
- 9:50pm - Bahrain (Gulf Air)
- 10:00pm - Dubai (British Airways)
- 10:10pm - Dubai (Virgin Atlantic)
- 10:10pm - Tel Aviv (El Al)
- 10:35pm - Dubai (Emirates)
Gatwick Airport Cancellations
At Gatwick Airport, the following flights have been grounded:
- 11:15am - Dubai (Emirates)
- 11:35am - Dubai (Qantas)
- 12:35pm - Doha (Qatar Airways)
- 6:00pm - Amritsar (Air India)
- 6:25pm - Dubai (Emirates)
- 6:25pm - Dubai (Qantas)
- 8:50pm - Dubai (Emirates)
Regional Impact and Safety Concerns
Dubai, a popular holiday destination for British nationals, has suffered damage to its main airport - the world's busiest for passenger traffic - as well as to two luxury hotels. Four people were injured in the Dubai International Airport incident. In Abu Dhabi, a drone targeting Zayed International Airport was intercepted, with fallen debris killing one person.
Despite the widespread cancellations, some flights appear to be operating normally. Five scheduled flights to Egypt, two to Oman, and eight bound for Turkey remain unaffected at this time. Flights to Jeddah and Riyadh in Saudi Arabia are also scheduled to proceed as planned from Heathrow.
Passengers are advised to check with their airlines directly for the latest information and rebooking options, as the situation remains fluid with ongoing security concerns across the Middle East region.
