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Following escalating tensions in the Middle East, all flights between the Chinese mainland and Iran that are operated by Chinese airlines and scheduled from March 3 to 9 have been cancelled, while many flights to other Middle Eastern destinations have also been canceled, according to data from industry information provider Umetrip. 

From March 3 to 9, approximately 100 flights were scheduled between the Chinese mainland and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), about 40 more cancellations than during the same period in February; and about 30 scheduled flights were planned between the Chinese mainland and Saudi Arabia, about 10 more cancellations than in the same period in February, according to the Umetrip data.

From March 3 to 9, there were zero bookings for flights from the Chinese mainland to Iran, and roughly 10,000 bookings for flights from the Chinese mainland to the UAE, said the Umetrip.

VariFlight data also showed similar trend. According to data updated by VariFlight on Monday afternoon, 15,086 of 79,776 scheduled Middle East-linked flights for March 2-8 were canceled, an overall cancellation rate of 18.9 percent, with Monday alone showing a cancellation rate of 32.2 percent. 

VariFlight said that operating services were largely concentrated via Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Egypt; for the week, 29.3 percent of Chinese mainland-linked flights to the region were canceled and only 19 flights remained operating, mainly through Istanbul, Cairo and Jeddah. 

Global Times