Air France and KLM have temporarily suspended multiple routes to the Middle East amid growing regional tensions. Air France paused flights to Dubai, while KLM halted services to Tel Aviv, Dubai, Dammam and Riyadh and said it will avoid the airspace of Iraq, Iran and several Gulf states. The moves come after U.S. President Donald Trump said a "big force" of U.S. warships was heading to the Gulf; both carriers say they are monitoring the situation and will update schedules as needed.
Air France, KLM Suspend Flights To Dubai And Tel Aviv As Middle East Tensions Rise
View of Air France planes on the snow-covered tarmac at the Paris-Charles de Gaulle airport, in Roissy-en-France, near Paris, on January 7, 2026 [Abdul Saboor/Reuters]
At least two major European carriers have temporarily suspended services to several destinations in the Middle East amid rising regional tensions. Air France confirmed it has halted flights to Dubai, while Dutch flag carrier KLM has suspended operations to Tel Aviv, Dubai, Dammam and Riyadh and said it will avoid certain regional airspace.
Airlines' Actions
Air France told AFP that it has decided to temporarily suspend its service to Dubai "due to the current situation in the Middle East." The airline said it is monitoring developments in real time and will provide updates to its flight schedule as the situation evolves.
KLM told the Netherlands' public broadcaster NOS that it has halted flights until further notice to Tel Aviv, Dubai, Dammam and Riyadh. KLM also said it would avoid flying through the airspace of Iraq, Iran, Israel and several Gulf states. According to NOS, the carrier is in contact with Dutch authorities but did not provide further operational details.
Context
The disruptions follow comments by United States President Donald Trump that a "big force" of U.S. warships, described by him as an "armada," was heading toward the Gulf region. The president made the remarks aboard Air Force One after attending the World Economic Forum in Davos, saying "We're watching Iran" and that ships were being deployed "just in case."
"We're watching Iran. You know we have a lot of ships going that direction, just in case … We have a big force going toward Iran," the president said.
Passengers booked on affected flights should check directly with their airline or travel agent for the latest schedule updates and rebooking options. Airlines typically post notices on their official websites and notify affected customers by email or SMS.
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