Thousands of passengers are facing delays and cancellations after airspaces in the Middle East were closed and airlines changed their flight schedules following Iranian missile attacks on US military bases in Qatar on Monday. Qatar, which is a major route for international air travel, closed its airspace and suspended commercial air travel after missiles flew into the territory in response to the American bombing of Iranian nuclear sites and escalating tensions in the Gulf on Sunday. At least six aircrafts were forced to turn around following the military base strikes, according to the tracker FlightRadar24, after the airspaces over the United Arab Emirates and nearby Bahrain were also temporarily closed.

Providers including British Airways, Singapore Airlines, Air France and Finnar cancelled services to Doha and Dubai following the US strikes on the weekend, with Kuwait Airways and Pakistan International Airlines following their lead after the retaliation on Monday. The Persian Gulf's airspace was left completely empty following the strikes on US bases - a route that has become more frequently used by airlines travelling between Asia and Europe since the airspaces over Ukraine and Russia were closed following the outbreak of war in 2022.

British Airways cancelled all flights from London to Doha until Wednesday after Monday's strikes and a spokesperson said passenger and staff safety was "our highest priority".

The airline previously cancelled flights to Dubai on Sunday and Monday after a UAE-bound plane was diverted from Saudi Arabian airspace to Zurich on the weekend.

Major international carrier Singapore Airlines also cancelled flights to Dubai until June 25, with Air France, Iberia and Air Astana suspending some journeys to the Middle East this week.

Finnish airline Finnar said on Monday that it was suspending flights to Doha until June 30, citing "the situation in the region".

Meanwhile, other carriers including United Airlines and American Airlines stopped offering flights to the affected regions before the US attack on Sunday amid growing fears about the Middle Eastern conflict - with normal services yet to resume.

British Airways - all flights from London Heathrow and Dubai between June 22 and June 23 and to Doha until June 25

Singapore Airlines - twice-daily Singapore to Dubai service between June 22 and June 25

Air France - all flights to Dubai between June 22 and June 23

Air Astana - four flights from Kazakhstan to Dubai on June 23 and three flights on June 24

American Airlines - all flights from Philadelphia International Airport to Qatar until further notice

United Airlines - all flights from New Jersey's Newark Liberty International Airport to Dubai until further notice

Air Canada - all flights from Toronto to Dubai until July 3

Kuwait Airways - all flights temporarily suspended from Kuwait until further notice

Pakistan International Airlines - all flights from Pakistan to Qatar, Bahrain, Dubai and Kuwait cancelled until further notice