Gulf airlines regain altitude after months of conflict

Airlines in the Middle East are gradually restoring operations after months of disruption tied to the conflict in Iran, with flight activity nearing pre-war levels, according to Flightradar24 data cited by Reuters. Major carriers in the region have recovered to about 82% of the flight volumes recorded on February 27, the day before hostilities began. Some airlines, including Gulf Air and Kuwait Airways, have recently exceeded their pre-war activity. The recovery follows an interim agreement signed by the U.S. and Iran this week to end nearly four months of conflict, with officials expected to discuss implementation of a ceasefire on June 19. The disruption forced reroutes, suspensions, and airport closures after missile and drone attacks, affecting one of the world’s busiest aviation corridors. While Emirates, Qatar Airways, and Etihad are at roughly at least 90% of pre-war levels or close, safety concerns remain as drone attacks limited safe flight routes. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency maintained warnings, saying it was too early to judge whether risks to civil aviation will sustain declines. Emirates said it is operating at 86% of pre-conflict volumes.