The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) has updated its travel advice to warn against all travel to Israel and Palestine, following joint US and Israeli military strikes on Iran and the subsequent closure of Israeli airspace.
In a statement, the FCDO said: “Due to the threat posed by escalation in the region, we recommend against all travel to Israel and Palestine.”
It confirmed that on 28 February 2026 the United States and Israel commenced joint military action in Iran, prompting immediate security concerns across the region.
British nationals urged to shelter in place
The Foreign Office has also updated its guidance for UK nationals in Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Kuwait, advising travellers to “immediately shelter in place”.
The advisory states: “Remain indoors in a secure location, avoid all travel and follow instructions from the local authorities.”
British nationals in affected areas are urged to take sensible precautions, avoid military facilities and ensure travel documents remain up to date.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer is expected to chair a meeting of the Government’s Cobra emergency committee, as ministers assess the situation. The UK Government has said it was not involved in the strikes and that its priority remains “the safety of UK nationals”.
Airlines suspend services across the region
Global carriers cancelled or rerouted flights on Saturday as airspace over Iran and Iraq appeared largely empty, according to tracking data from Flightradar24.
Airline responses include:
• Air France and KLM cancelled flights to and from Tel Aviv and Beirut, with KLM bringing forward its suspension of Amsterdam–Tel Aviv services.
• Japan Airlines cancelled a Tokyo Haneda–Doha flight and a return service scheduled for 1 March.
• Lufthansa suspended flights to Tel Aviv, Beirut and Oman until 7 March and cancelled Dubai services over the weekend, while avoiding Israeli, Lebanese, Jordanian, Iraqi and Iranian airspace.
• Virgin Atlantic cancelled its Heathrow–Dubai VS400 service on Saturday and confirmed it would temporarily avoid Iraqi airspace.
• Wizz Air halted flights to and from Israel, Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Amman with immediate effect until 7 March.
Other airlines indicated schedules would be reviewed continuously as the situation evolves.
Growing disruption for business travellers
For corporate travellers with Middle East itineraries, the impact is immediate. With Israeli airspace closed and multiple carriers suspending routes across the Gulf, disruption is likely to extend beyond the weekend as aircraft and crew rotations are repositioned.
The UK Government has emphasised it does not wish to see “further escalation into a wider regional conflict”, but aviation markets are already responding to heightened risk.
Business travellers are advised to check directly with airlines before travelling and to monitor FCDO updates closely as the security situation develops.