Travelers endure hours of uncertainty as Middle East strikes disrupt flights

Passengers remained onboard for six to seven hours while authorities monitored the situation, before spending another five to seven hours queuing for immigration procedures. It was not until the early hours of March 1, nearly 24 hours after departure, that Hieu and other travelers were finally able to leave the airport.

The airline later arranged hotel accommodation and issued emergency visas, allowing passengers temporary entry into Oman while awaiting revised flight schedules.

Without access to their checked baggage, Hieu and another Vietnamese passenger had to purchase new clothes and essential personal items before settling into the hotel arranged by the carrier.

"After 24 memorable and exhausting hours, I was fortunate that the airline arranged a five-star hotel and covered all accommodation and meal expenses," Hieu said.

In several cities, including Dubai, Doha and parts of Jordan, travelers said they were caught off guard as the conflict’s impact quickly spread across the region.

Duy An, who left Hanoi on Feb. 28 to attend a technology event in Spain, was transiting through Dubai when airspace restrictions forced the cancellation of onward flights.

Upon arrival at Dubai International Airport, passengers were informed that his connecting service to Spain had been scrapped, and the airline arranged temporary accommodation at a nearby hotel.

Later that evening, while staying at JA Lake View Hotel, about 40 kilometers from the airport, An said he was startled by a loud explosion that shook the windows. Emergency alerts repeatedly appeared on his phone urging residents to seek shelter, and hotel staff instructed guests to gather in the lobby as a precaution.

"I’m currently safe at the hotel and waiting for further information," An said, noting that streets near the property appeared unusually deserted on March 1.

Travel blogger Ly Thanh Co said he is currently in Jordan for the final leg of his 14-day Egypt-Jordan itinerary and has repeatedly heard fighter jets overhead. Although the trip had been carefully planned in advance, the evolving security situation has disrupted his return schedule.

He intends to travel overland to Turkey before flying home, depending on how the airline rearranges its routes.

"There’s little I can do besides wait for updates from the airline," he said.

Do Hoang Mai Linh departed Hanoi for Switzerland's Geneva at 7 p.m. on Feb. 27, transiting through Doha.

After a nine-hour layover, her connecting flight took off on the morning of Feb. 28 but returned to Doha roughly an hour later due to safety concerns.

Inside the airport, departure boards repeatedly displayed "Delayed" and "Canceled."

By the afternoon of March 1, Linh and the remaining passengers were still staying at a hotel in Doha, waiting for updated flight arrangements from the airline.

Travel agencies said airlines operating major transit routes through the Middle East — including Emirates, Qatar Airways and Turkish Airlines — were among the hardest hit during the disruption.

Several countries such as Iran, Iraq and Jordan, along with key aviation hubs including Doha and Dubai, imposed restrictions or temporarily suspended flights at times due to concerns over missile and drone threats.

As a result, hundreds of connecting flights from Vietnam to Europe via Dubai or Doha were delayed or canceled. Direct services between Vietnam and several major European cities, however, continued operating after adjusting flight paths to avoid high-risk airspace.

More than 3,000 flights have been canceled since U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran triggered sweeping airspace closures across the Middle East, according to Euro News.

The Vietnamese Embassy in the UAE said local authorities had committed to covering accommodation and meal expenses for passengers stranded due to conflict-related disruptions.

Around 20,200 travelers have been provided with temporary lodging, meals and assistance with rebooking while awaiting new flight arrangements.

Pham Anh Vu, Deputy General Director of Du Lich Viet Company, a tour agency, advised Vietnamese passengers transiting through the Middle East to prepare for possible schedule changes and extended layovers.

He noted that some Dubai-bound flights were temporarily suspended from Feb. 28 to March 2, with further adjustments depending on developments.

Many customers, despite holding valid tickets and visas, have expressed security concerns and sought to cancel or postpone their tours.

Travel firms said they are assisting clients in rescheduling trips to a more suitable time and working with airlines and partners to minimize costs arising from force majeure circumstances.

For some travelers, the disruption carries significant financial consequences.

Hieu said he remains "on pins and needles" as he is scheduled to attend a tourism fair in Germany on March 3 while currently stranded in Oman.

"The cost of setting up a booth at the fair runs into hundreds of millions of dong (VND100 million equals US$3,800). If we cannot attend, it would be a total loss," he said, adding that if airspace reopens after March 3, he plans to return to Vietnam immediately.

In Dubai, An said meeting other stranded Vietnamese travelers provided reassurance, as they were able to exchange information and support one another.

He has decided to cancel his Spain trip and return home once the airline confirms a new schedule.

"Just getting home safely is enough," An said.