Effects of Middle East turmoil on air traffic to/from Belgium

Here’s a route-by-route look at how the Middle East airspace turmoil — triggered by Iran-related military escalation — is specifically affecting flights to and from Belgium (especially via Brussels and Charleroi):

1. Direct Brussels – Tel Aviv services suspended

Brussels Airlines has suspended its flights between Brussels and Tel Aviv until 7 March 2026.

• This follows the recent U.S.–Israel strikes on Iran and the resulting closure of Israeli airspace to civilian traffic.

• Passengers booked on these routes can seek refunds or rebook at no extra cost.

Impact summary:

• Brussels–Tel Aviv flights cancelled through early March.

• Strong possibility of further changes if tensions persist.

2. Wider Belgian traveller exposure via European carriers

Even if Belgium doesn’t have many direct long-haul flights through Iran’s airspace, European carriers flying out of Brussels or Charleroi are cancelling or rerouting flights to Middle Eastern hubs, which affects Belgian passengers booking these routes:

Hub connections affected (via Europe)

• Major European airlines — including KLM, Lufthansa, Air France and Wizz Air — have cancelled or rerouted services to regional hubs in the Middle East such as Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha, Amman and Beirut as a precaution or due to airspace closures.

Examples of affected routes for Belgian flyers:

• Brussels -> Dubai / Abu Dhabi: Flights by some carriers are currently cancelled or suspended because UAE airspace has been temporarily restricted.

• Brussels -> Doha: Services using Qatar as a transit point have been paused amid Qatar’s airspace closure.

• Brussels -> Beirut / Amman: Cancellations and schedule uncertainty persist for these Middle East routes.

While flights directly from Belgium to destinations such as Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha, Amman or Beirut are less common as direct services from Brussels or Charleroi, the airlines that normally operate those longer routes via European hubs or connections have taken broad actions, which indirectly affect Belgian travellers:

• Lufthansa — the airline group that Brussels Airlines is part of — has cancelled flights to and from Dubai, Tel Aviv, Beirut, Amman, Erbil and more until 7 March. These suspensions apply across its network, meaning Belgian passengers booked on connections through Germany are affected.

• Air France and KLM have cancelled flights to Tel Aviv and some other Middle Eastern cities; KLM brought forward its Tel Aviv suspension.

• Wizz Air suspended flights to/from Israel, Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Amman.

• Turkish Airlines (commonly used for indirect connections) has cancelled flights across much of the Middle East, including Gulf states and Israel, through early March.

3. Indirect routing impacts and connection delays

Alternative routings affecting Belgium departures

Because Iranian and neighbouring airspace — historically used for Europe–Asia and Europe–India flights — is off limits:

• Many airlines are rerouting flights far north via Central Asia or south of conflict zones, lengthening flight times.

• This affects schedules even for flights that begin or end in Brussels if they connect onward through the Middle East or head to South Asia.

Flights that go from Belgium to South Asia, Southeast Asia, or Australia often connect in Gulf hubs (like Dubai and Doha). The closures in the Gulf are now having a major knock-on effect on these itineraries:

• Dubai suspended all flights at Dubai International and Al-Maktoum due to airspace closures, affecting Emirates operations and connections from Europe.

• Doha saw Qatar Airways suspend flights to/from its hub.

Belgian passengers using these hubs as layovers (e.g., BRU -> DXB -> BKK) will likely see:

• Cancelled or delayed flights,

• Longer alternative routings (possibly via Europe -> central/northern Asia instead of the Gulf),

• Potential connection complications or “missed connections” if airlines adjust schedules.

Operational ripple effects

• Longer flight durations increase fuel costs and can lead to schedule knock-on effects (e.g., aircraft arriving late, missed connections) in and out of Belgian hubs.

• Carriers may revise bookings or plans without additional notice as the situation evolves.

4. What Belgian travellers should do

Here are practical steps for anyone flying from Belgium in the coming days:

• Check your airline’s flight status before travelling to the airport — especially on routes that touch the Middle East or South Asia.

• Expect longer flights and potential delays on transcontinental routes typically routed through the Middle East.

• For cancelled flights, most carriers are offering refunds or rebooking options.

Bottom line for Belgian passengers

• Direct Belgium–Middle East flights (e.g., Brussels–Tel Aviv) are currently suspended.

• Connecting flights via regional hubs may be cancelled, delayed or rerouted, affecting broader European–Africa/Asia travel.

• The disruption stems from widespread airspace closures across Iran, Israel, Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain and other Gulf states amid military escalation.