London City airport has launched a public consultation on plans to introduce a shallower landing approach which could allow larger aircraft such as the Airbus A320neo to operate there for the first time. The proposal would add a 4.49‑degree approach alongside the airport's existing steep 5.5‑degree one, which currently restricts the types of aircraft able to serve it. The new procedure would be enabled by high‑precision satellite‑based navigation and would apply only to authorised aircraft, while most flights would continue adhering to the current approach. If approved, the change would pave the way for aircraft such as the Airbus A320neo, which offers greater seating capacity compared with the aircraft types currently operated at London City, such as the Embraer 195 and Airbus A220. London City says the move would allow it to accommodate future passenger growth with fewer flights overall. It cites estimates that enabling larger, quieter aircraft would result in around 76,000 fewer flights over the next 12 years compared with current procedures. Overall noise exposure would be reduced for some 110,000 local residents. The airport says the change would support growth towards its government‑approved cap of 9 million passengers a year. The proposal could also encourage new airlines and routes. In January 2025, London City said it had applied to the UK Civil Aviation Authority to be certificated for Airbus A320neo operations with a new required navigation performance procedure.

Airlines have begun taking tentative steps to restoring some capacity in airline markets that had been completely shut down by the latest round of fighting in the Middle East. Flight-tracking data shows an increase in flight activity in the region, with passenger aircraft operating over Saudi Arabia, Oman and Jordan at 10:00 GMT, although the airspace above Israel, Iraq, Iran, Syria, Lebanon, Kuwait, Bahrain, the UAE and Qatar appeared completely empty of civilian traffic. Some of the traffic could be airlines repositioning their aircraft, empty of passengers. Emirates and sister airline Flydubai said they would begin operating "a limited number of flights" from the evening of 2 March. Data from Dubai International shows that around four flights are scheduled to depart the airport per hour until the early evening of 3 March, after which services rise to around eight per hour. Those flights are being operated by Emirates, Flydubai and others. Etihad and Qatar Airways say their services remain suspended in line with airspace restrictions. Oman Air has cancelled a handful of services on 3 March but says others will be operated, albeit subject to delays. From 28 February through 2 March, just over 32,000 flights were scheduled to arrive or depart from the region including Turkiye, Cirium data shows. Of these, around 40% were cancelled. Cancellation or no-fly rates for 2 March ranged from almost total in Qatar, Israel, Kuwait, Iraq and Bahrain, to 76% in Jordan, 67% in Lebanon, 37% in Oman, and 22% in Saudi Arabia. There are around 900,000 seats per day scheduled to fly to the Middle East from points abroad, and within the region. The resulting backlog in passengers will require a huge effort by airlines to clear, and completion of the task is impossible where airspace is largely closed. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency has an active Conflict Zone Information Bulletin stating that there is a "high risk to civil aviation" in the region and that carriers should avoid flying at all airspace levels. This applies to Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, the UAE and Saudi Arabia, and is valid until 6 March.

Airlines have cancelled some flights to the Middle East and rerouted others as conflict following US and Israeli strikes on Iran extends into its third day with no signs of abating. As of 2 March, there are full or partial airspace closures in Iran, Israel, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Iraq, Jordan and Syria. Carriers operating out of airports in these countries have suspended flights. ASIA IndiGo has cancelled flights to a large swathe of the Middle East through 2 March. Air India will suspend flights to and from UAE, Saudi Arabia, Israel and Qatar until the end of 2 March. Its flights from Amritsar and Delhi to Birmingham in the UK have been cancelled, as have flights from Delhi to Zurich and Copenhagen. Cathay Pacific has cancelled flights to and from Riyadh and Dubai until 3 and 5 March, respectively, and says there could be further changes to its flight schedule. Singapore Airlines has suspended its flights to Dubai until 7 March, while low-cost subsidiary Scoot has cancelled flights to Jeddah at least until 7 March. Malaysia Airlines has suspended all flights to and from Doha, Jeddah and Madinah until 4 March. SriLankan Airlines has suspended all flights from Colombo to Dubai, Doha, Dammam, Riyadh and Kuwait at least until the end of 2 March. Philippine Airlines has cancelled flights to Doha until 4 March, while flights to Dubai and Riyadh have been cancelled for 2 March. MIDDLE EAST Emirates and sister airline Flydubai, citing "multiple regional airspace closures", says they have suspended all operations to and from Dubai until the 15:00 local time on 3 March. Dubai Airports has confirmed that a concourse at Dubai International "sustained minor damage in an incident which was quickly contained", adding: "Emergency response teams were immediately deployed and are managing the situation in co-ordination with the relevant authorities. Four staff sustained injuries and received prompt medical attention. Due to contingency plans already in place, most of the terminals were previously cleared of passengers." Abu Dhabi Airports, meanwhile, confirmed in a 1 March X post that authorities in the emirate were "responding to an incident resulting from the interception of a drone that targeted Zayed International airport", adding that "the interception led to falling debris", which resulted in one fatality and seven injuries. Etihad Airways has paused operations until 14:00 local time, citing regional airspace closures. "The situation remains dynamic and schedules may change at short notice," it says. Qatar Airways has suspended all services at its Doha hub, as Qatari airspace is closed. Saudia says flights to and from Amman, Kuwait, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha, Bahrain, Moscow and Peshawar have been cancelled. This will apply through 2 March. Air Arabia has suspended all services to and from the UAE until 15:00 local time on 3 March. Flynas says "a number of flights to select destinations" have been suspended until midday local time on 3 March, citing airspace closures. El Al says local airspace is closed in light of the "special situation on the home front", necessitating the suspension of all services through 4 March. "We are preparing for an operation to bring Israelis back home as soon as [Tel Aviv's] Ben Gurion airport reopens for activity," it adds. EUROPE British Airways has cancelled "a number of our flights" to points in the Middle East. It cites Abu Dhabi, Amman, Bahrain, Doha, Dubai and Tel Aviv as destinations that it will provide refunds for up to 15 March. Air France has suspended services to Tel Aviv, Beirut, Dubai and Riyadh through 3 March. KLM says it has suspended the remainder of its winter seasonal operations to Tel Aviv, as well as links to Dubai, Damman and Riyadh until 5 March. Lufthansa Group says its airlines have suspended services to Tel Aviv, Beirut, Amman, Erbil, Dammam and Tehran until 8 March. It will also avoid the airspaces of Israel, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Dammam and Iran until the same date. In addition, Lufthansa Group airlines will suspend flights to and from Dubai until March 4 and avoid the country's airspace. Wizz Air has suspended all services to Israel, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Amman and Saudi Arabia through 7 March. Aegean Airlines has suspended its operations to Tel Aviv, Beirut, Erbil, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Baghdad, Riyadh and Jeddah through 3 March. Turkish Airlines has "some of our flights" to Bahrain, Dammam, Riyadh, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Syria and the UAE have been cancelled.