Airline, travel industries scramble with fallout from Middle East conflict

— The airline and tourism industries scrambled to deal with the fallout from the escalating US and Israeli air war against Iran, while governments rushed to bring stranded travelers home from the Middle East following the cancellation of more than 20,000 flights in recent days.

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Major Gulf hubs including Dubai, the world’s busiest international airport, remained closed or severely restricted for a fourth day, leaving tens of thousands of passengers stranded. According to Flightradar24, some 21,300 flights have been canceled at seven major airports including Dubai, Doha and Abu Dhabi since the strikes started.

The attacks have upended travel across a growing region with several thriving business hubs that are trying to diversify away from oil-dominated economies. The turmoil also narrows an already-slim flight corridor for long-haul flights between Europe and Asia, complicating operations for global air carriers.