Finance
Air France-KLM cancels middle east flights on security concerns
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on March 3, 2026
1 min readLast updated: March 3, 2026
Quick Summary
Air France‑KLM has suspended flights to and from multiple Middle Eastern cities—Air France through March 5, KLM through March 9—citing serious security risks from the escalating regional conflict.
Air France-KLM Cancels Flights to Middle East Citing Security Concerns
Overview of Flight Cancellations and Security Measures
Details of the Cancellations
PARIS, March 3 (Reuters) - Air France-KLM has cancelled its flights to and from the Middle East, the Franco-Dutch group said in statements overnight, citing security risks from the ongoing conflict.
Safety Priorities and Assessment
It said the safety of its customers and crew was a top priority and that it will assess the situation before resuming flights.
Specific Routes and Duration of Suspension
Air France cancelled flights to and from Tel Aviv, Beirut, Dubai and Riyadh up to and including Thursday. KLM, the Dutch arm of the group, has cancelled flights to and from Dammam, Dubai and Riyadh until March 9, it said in a separate statement late on Monday.
(Reporting by Alessandro ParodiEditing by David Goodman)
Key Takeaways
- •Air France has cancelled services to Tel Aviv, Beirut, Dubai and Riyadh through Thursday; KLM has suspended flights to Dammam, Dubai and Riyadh until March 9, prioritizing passenger and crew safety.
- •The disruptions are part of broader global travel chaos caused by widespread airspace closures across the Middle East following U.S.–Israeli strikes on Iran and retaliatory actions, leading to thousands of cancellations.
- •Airlines are navigating limited and vulnerable corridors like the Caucasus, facing congestion, longer routes, higher costs and uncertain resumption timelines.
Frequently Asked Questions about Air France-KLM cancels Middle East flights on security concerns
1Why did Air France-KLM cancel flights to the Middle East?
Air France-KLM cancelled flights due to security risks stemming from ongoing conflict in the region.
2Which Middle East destinations are affected by the Air France-KLM cancellations?
Flights to and from Tel Aviv, Beirut, Dubai, Riyadh, and Dammam have been cancelled.
3How long will the Air France-KLM flight cancellations last?
Air France flights are cancelled until Thursday, while KLM flights to some destinations are suspended until March 9.
4What is Air France-KLM's priority regarding these cancellations?
The safety of customers and crew is stated as the top priority for Air France-KLM.
5When will Air France-KLM resume its flights to the Middle East?
The group will assess the security situation and decide when to resume flights accordingly.