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Brits Stranded as Airspace Chaos Hits Gulf Holidays
2 Mar
Summary
- Thousands of flights cancelled, impacting an estimated 200,000 Britons in the Gulf.
- Dubai International Airport, the world's busiest, experienced indefinite closure.
- Travel expert predicts a gradual resumption of flights over several days.
Travelers in the Middle East are facing significant disruptions to their holidays as a wave of violence has led to thousands of flight cancellations. An estimated 200,000 Britons are currently in the Gulf region, with airspace closures compounding the problem.
Major international hubs have seen widespread cancellations and suspensions. Dubai International Airport, recognized as the world's busiest, experienced an indefinite closure, with Emirates indicating a potential restart on Monday. Other airports, including Abu Dhabi and Kuwait, were also affected by retaliatory strikes.
Travel expert Simon Calder forecasts that flights might begin operating again in a limited capacity within the next few days. However, he cautions that restoring full operations will take time due to the displacement of aircraft and crew. Shuttle services to closer destinations like Cyprus could also be implemented.
The ongoing situation creates immense stress for those affected, particularly with the threat of drone and missile attacks. The sheer scale of the disruption is staggering, with thousands of flights and hundreds of thousands of passengers impacted daily by the closures of airports like Dubai, Doha, and Abu Dhabi.
