British Airways and American Airlines Cut Middle East Routes Amid Ongoing Conflict

British Airways announced the reduction or suspension of flights to seven Middle Eastern cities as a result of the continuing conflict in the region. Services to Dubai, Doha, Riyadh and Tel Aviv were cut from multiple daily flights to a single daily flight until August 1, with full service slated to resume later in the summer or autumn. Flights to Bahrain and Amman are paused for the rest of the summer season and will restart on October 25, while the Jeddah route has been permanently discontinued.

American Airlines extended the suspension of its New York–Tel Aviv and Philadelphia–Doha services until at least early 2027. The carrier had initially halted these routes in late 2023 and early 2026 due to safety concerns and regional airspace instability, but ongoing tensions involving Israel, Iran and Gulf states have forced a longer withdrawal. The extended suspensions highlight the broader challenges airlines face in planning routes amid heightened geopolitical risk in the Middle East.