UK Foreign Office updates journey recommendation amid strikes on Iran and cancelled flights

The UK Foreign Office has up to date its journey recommendation to warn in opposition to all journey to Israel and Palestine.

In an announcement on its web site, it mentioned: “Due to the threat posed by escalation in the region, we recommend against all travel to Israel and Palestine.

“On 28 February 2026, the US and Israel commenced joint military action in Iran, Israeli airspace has now closed.”

British nationals within the area are urged to take “sensible precautions”, together with following recommendation from regional authorities, staying away from army services and guaranteeing journey paperwork are updated.

The Foreign Office has additionally up to date journey recommendation for UK nationals in Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Kuwait to warn folks to “immediately shelter in place”.

The recommendation on the FCDO web site mentioned: “Remain indoors in a secure location, avoid all travel and follow instructions from the local authorities.”

The UK Government mentioned its precedence is “the safety of UK nationals” within the Middle East however that it’s “ready to protect our interests”.

It is known the UK was not concerned within the US and Israeli strikes on Iran and Sir Keir Starmer will chair a gathering of the Government’s emergency Cobra committee on Saturday morning.

A Government spokesperson mentioned: “Iran must never be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon and that is why we have continually supported efforts to reach a negotiated solution.

“Our immediate priority is the safety of UK nationals in the region and we will provide them with consular assistance, available 24/7.

“As part of our longstanding commitments to the security of our allies in the Middle East, we have a range of defensive capabilities in the region, which we have recently bolstered. We stand ready to protect our interests.

“We do not want to see further escalation into a wider regional conflict.”

Global airways cancelled flights throughout the Middle East on Saturday.

Airspace over Iran and Iraq was empty on Saturday morning, maps by flight-tracking service Flightradar24 confirmed.

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Below is the most recent on flights listed by airline in alphabetical order:

AIR FRANCE KLM

Air France AIRF.PA cancelled flights to and from Tel Aviv in Israel and Beirut in Lebanon for Saturday.

KLM introduced ahead the suspension of its Amsterdam–Tel Aviv service, cancelling the flight scheduled for Saturday. The Dutch arm of Air France‑KLM had introduced on Wednesday that flights could be halted from Sunday, however has now superior that date.

Only one flight to Tel Aviv had been scheduled for Saturday.

INDIGO

The airline mentioned it was monitoring regional updates.

JAPAN AIRLINES

Japan Airlines 9201.T cancelled a flight on Saturday from Tokyo Haneda to Doha in addition to a return flight on March 1, Nikkei mentioned.

LUFTHANSA

The German airline LHAG.DE suspended flights to and from Tel Aviv in Israel, Beirut in Lebanon, and Oman till March 7 and flights to and from Dubai on Saturday and Sunday.

They additionally mentioned they might not add Israeli, Lebanese, Jordanian, Iraqi and Iranian airspace till March 7.

VIRGIN ATLANTIC

Virgin Atlantic mentioned it’ll temporarily keep away from Iraqi airspace, leading to some pre-planned rerouting of its flights and cancelled its VS400 service from London Heathrow to Dubai on Saturday.

WIZZ AIR

The airline WIZZ.L halted flights to and from Israel, Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Amman with instant impact till March 7.

It added that operational choices would proceed to be reviewed, and the flight schedule could possibly be adjusted because the scenario evolves.