Flight Disruptions from Turkey and Dubai Amid Rising Tensions in Iran
In a significant development reflecting escalating tensions in Iran, airlines and regional airports have canceled numerous scheduled flights between Iran and both Turkey and the United Arab Emirates as of Friday, January 9, 2026. This comes amid ongoing protests and deteriorating security and living conditions.
Turkish Airlines announced the cancellation of all five planned flights between Istanbul and Tehran, as indicated by the Istanbul Airport app.
Additionally, departure boards showed the cancellation of five other flights operated by Iranian airlines on the same route, while seven flights are still scheduled to depart.
Reports from Iranian travelers on the platform "X" indicated that flights already en route to Iran had to turn back mid-flight.
According to data from the flight tracking application "Flight Radar", a Turkish Airlines flight headed to Shiraz and another from the budget airline "Pegasus" bound for Mashhad both returned to Istanbul during the night.
In a related development, airports in Dubai announced the cancellation of six scheduled flights to Iran today, without providing further details on the duration of these cancellations or the status of upcoming flights.
So far, the Turkish government has not issued an official statement regarding the reasons for the cancellations, while Iran experiences the thirteenth consecutive day of escalating protests triggered by worsening living conditions, currency devaluation, and rising costs of living.
According to reports from Reuters, a complete internet outage has been observed in Iran, as security forces deployed tear gas and live ammunition to disperse protesters in several cities, amid calls from opposition groups abroad for further protests and strikes.
The roots of these protests trace back to December 28, when merchants in Tehran's bazaar began striking in response to the declining exchange rate and purchasing power, amid U.S. and international sanctions.
The protests quickly spread, particularly in western Iran, where large populations of Kurdish and Lor minority groups reside, according to AFP.
It is noteworthy that Turkey and Iran share a common land border of approximately 500 kilometers, with three border crossings between the two countries, heightening sensitivity to security or political developments on both sides.
With ongoing unrest, the situation remains fluid, potentially leading to further cancellations and disruptions in air travel, raising concerns among travelers and airlines alike.
