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Air travel thrown into chaos by new Middle East conflict

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The war in the Middle East may seen a long way away for some but its ripple effects are already being felt far and wide.

This includes people who are travelling both within and outside Europe.

It  is  estimated that at least 20,000 flights in and out of the Middle East have been canceled since the U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran.

More than a million of people were affected by cancellations and airspace closures. More than a million people around the world were stranded because of airspace closures that have grounded over 20,000 flights since Saturday.

The BBC reports that there have also been attacks on airports and civilian areas, especially in the economic and tourist hubs of Dubai and Abu Dhabi in United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Doha in Qatar. The Dubai Airport, the busiest in the world for international travel, was damaged by drone debris in the counter-strikes. 

The US, UK, Canada and Australia are all advising against all but essential travel to the UAE right now.

Emirates, one of the many airlines affected by the conflict, the most serious this year, has confirmed that it is currently operating a reduced flight schedule until further notice. This follows the partial re-opening of regional airspace for the safe conduct of commercial flights.

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For 5 and 6 March, over 100 flights will depart from Dubai and return. These flights will carry people eager to reach their final destinations, as well as essential cargo like perishables and pharmaceuticals.

Emirates says it will continue to gradually build back its flying schedule, subject to airspace availability and all operational requirements being met.

A spokesman told this website on Thursday: “Safety is always our top priority.

“We continue to monitor the situation and adapt our operations accordingly.”

For now, the airline says that its customers should only proceed to the airport if they have a confirmed booking.

The spokesman added: “We urge all customers to check emirates.com and our official social media channels, where we will publish the latest updates.”

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