Flight Cancellations from Turkey and Dubai Amid Rising Tensions in Iran
Significant unrest in Iran has resulted in the cancellation of numerous flights between Iran and both Turkey and the UAE as of Friday, January 9, 2026. This disruption is attributed to ongoing protests and deteriorating security and living conditions in the country.
Turkish Airlines confirmed the cancellation of all five scheduled flights connecting Istanbul and Tehran, as reported by the Istanbul Airport app.
Additionally, five flights operated by Iranian airlines on the same route were also canceled, although seven other flights remain scheduled for now.
Reports from travelers indicated that some planes that had already departed for Iran were forced to return mid-flight. Data from the flight tracking app Flight Radar showed that a Turkish Airlines flight bound for Shiraz and another from low-cost carrier Pegasus heading to Mashhad both turned back to Istanbul during the night.
In Dubai, airports announced the cancellation of six flights to Iran, though no further details were provided regarding the duration of these cancellations or the status of incoming flights.
As of now, Turkish officials have not commented on the reasons for the cancellations, which come amid the thirteenth consecutive day of protests in Iran, sparked by worsening living conditions, currency devaluation, and increasing costs of living.
Reports indicate that Iran has experienced a complete internet blackout, with security forces deploying tear gas and live ammunition to disperse protesters in various cities. Opposition groups abroad have called for continued protests and strikes.
The protests originated on December 28 of last year, when merchants in the Tehran bazaar initiated a strike against currency devaluation and declining purchasing power, exacerbated by U.S. and international sanctions. The unrest has since spread, particularly in western Iran, home to significant Kurdish and Lor minority populations, according to Agence France-Presse.
Given that Turkey and Iran share a 500-kilometer land border with three crossings, any developments in security or political relations between the two nations are particularly sensitive.
As the situation evolves, further flight cancellations and disruptions in air travel are anticipated, raising concerns among travelers and airlines alike.
