What the US-Iran Ceasefire Means for Travel in the Middle East

On Tuesday, April 7, following six weeks of conflict, the US and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire. The temporary pause will allow for negotiations between the two countries, set to begin on Friday, April 10 in Islamabad. The ceasefire is temporary and comes with a number of conditions, including Iran reopening the Strait of Hormuz for the safe passage of cargo ships, along with a complete pause of strikes from both sides. The ripple effects of the war are being felt by travelers around the world: airspace closures have reconfigured global flight networks, the fuel crisis has lead to a spike in airfares, and travelers are reconsidering trips to popular tourism hubs like Dubai and Egypt. Here’s what to know. Airline schedules remain limited, for now. As of Wednesday, April 8, the region’s major airlines have not announced any changes to their schedules following the news of the ceasefire. As the pause is temporary, airlines will likely tread with caution before ramping up schedules. However, in recent weeks, airlines including Emirates, Etihad, flydubai and Qatar have been gradually increasing their flight networks and schedules, with the latest figures showing their operation