Western carriers will relish the chance to win some of their customers back
Hostilities in the Middle East are a reminder that the region is not just crucial to the global supply of oil and gas but a vital conduit for the world’s airline passengers. Over the past two decades the Gulf’s “super-connectors”—Emirates, Etihad and Qatar Airways—have helped long-haul flyers travel across the world. Amid the conflict, tens of thousands of those passengers have been stranded. Efforts to restart “limited” services have been halting. On March 16th Emirates was forced to cancel flights and reroute some planes mid-air after a drone attack on Dubai’s airport. The impact on the global airline business may persist well after the war ends.
The Middle East has come to play a central role in aviation. Before the conflict iata, a trade body, had forecast that the region would bring in 17% of the $41bn in net profits it expected for the global airline industry in 2026. Emirates is the world’s biggest international carrier, and the most profitable one, too. It and its short-haul partner, FlyDubai, placed large orders for planes at the Dubai airshow in November, as did Etihad, betting on further growth.
This article appeared in the Business section of the print edition under the headline “Clearing the air”
From the March 21st 2026 edition
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