Flights to and from countries in the Middle East will remain suspended until Monday as the conflict in the region continues, major airlines have said.

It comes after the U.S. and Israeli forces attacked Iran on Saturday morning in what the two countries described as a “pre-emptive” strike against a Tehran government intent on developing nuclear weapons.

The attack prompted retaliation from Iran, with missiles reported to have targeted Israel and countries across the Middle East.

In a statement on Sunday,  Etihad Airways advised passengers booked to travel before or on March 5 to rebook on an alternate flight or request a refund.

“We are actively monitoring the situation and engaging with relevant authorities,” the airline said. “We apologise to customers affected by disruptions for any inconvenience caused.”

Etihad Airways advised passengers that while airspace closures continue, disruption is to be expected.

“Regional airspace closures continue to impact Etihad’s operations, and all flights to and from Abu Dhabi are suspended until 2:00 a.m. UAE time on Monday, March 2,” the airline said on X.

Etihad said passengers should check their flight status on its website before travelling to the airport and ensure that their contact details are up to date in their booking.

People holding Etihad tickets for travel through March 3 can also request a full refund, the airline added.

“We are currently experiencing a high volume of calls and appreciate your patience as it may take longer than usual for calls to be answered,” Etihad said.

“Etihad continues to work in close coordination with the relevant authorities and will resume normal operations as soon as conditions permit.”

Qatar Airways said on Saturday night that flights remained temporarily suspended due to the closure of Qatari airspace.

It said on X, “Qatar Airways will resume operations once the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority announces the safe reopening of Qatari airspace.

“A further update will be provided by 9am Doha time (0600 GMT).”

In a later post on Sunday morning, Qatar Airways warned passengers of scammers impersonating airline staff online.

“We are aware of fraudulent accounts impersonating Qatar Airways and requesting personal information.

“Qatar Airways will never ask for passwords, OTPs, banking details, or other sensitive information via social media or direct messages,” the airline said. 

There are still 83 flights scheduled to operate between the UK and the Middle East on Sunday, according to aviation analytics company Cirium.

Meanwhile, the Foreign Office has advised British nationals in Bahrain, Israel, Palestine, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates to register their presence with the UK government to receive updates on the situation in the Middle East.

In a statement on Sunday, the office said, “You should continue to follow travel advice and the advice of the local authorities.”

(PA Media/dpa/NAN)