Middle East Conflict and its Impact on Civil Aviation
Overview of the Middle East Conflict (2025–May 2026)
Key points
-
Ongoing destabilization of the entire region since Hamas’ attack on Israel, on 7 October 2023.
-
The conflict spread from Gaza to the entire region.
-
Recurring attacks on Israel by Iran, Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis, as well as Syrian and Iraqi militias.
-
The US has been fully involved militarily since 2025.
-
Since February 2026, an open war between Iran and the U.S./Israel has been ongoing.
-
The risk of a prolonged major regional conflict continues to rise.
Impact on Civil Aviation
Conclusion
The conflict has led to the most severe disruption to civil aviation since the COVID-19 pandemic. Airspace closures in strategically important regions and the shutdown of key hubs have disrupted global traffic flows. Tens of thousands of flights were cancelled, hundreds of thousands of passengers were stranded, and airlines were forced to activate emergency plans.
Political protests related to the Middle East conflict at airports
In the last year, fedpol observed an increase in actions by pro-Palestinian and anti-war activists, rather than by climate activists. However, these activists used similar modes of operation at airports to those previously employed by climate activists. These actions range from demonstrations and blockades to trespassing into airport security zones and spray-painting aircraft. Here is an overview: