Middle East Airspace Updates: What This Means for Pet Travel

Updated 26th March 2026:

Although some passenger flights are beginning to resume, animal travel is often restored more gradually. Pets travel under specific welfare and handling requirements, which means airlines must be confident that every stage of the journey – including aircraft conditions, transit airports and ground handling teams – is fully in place before accepting pet travel bookings.

In periods of disruption, airlines will prioritise reintroducing passenger schedules first, with animal transport following once routes and facilities are operating consistently. This can mean that while flights appear to be running, space for pets may still be limited or temporarily unavailable.

Our team is in regular contact with airline cargo departments and will arrange travel as soon as suitable and approved options become available.

While some transit hubs remain under restriction for animal travel at the moment, alternative routes are now becoming possible through other international transit airports. Our team has been working closely with airline cargo departments and international handling partners to identify safe and compliant ways for pets to continue travelling. 

This means that for some journeys, particularly to destinations such as Australia and New Zealand, it is now possible for pets to fly using alternative routing options where owners wish to proceed. Please get in touch with us if you’re struggling with relocating your pet to these destinations. 

Because these routes often involve longer flight paths, additional transit stops or different airline partners, travel arrangements may look slightly different from the original plans. 

Please note: If your flight is affected, we will contact you directly to discuss available options.

Why some routes may currently cost more 

During periods of aviation disruption, airlines sometimes need to adjust routes or use different transit airports in order to operate safely and reliably. 

For live animal transport this can involve additional operational requirements or limited availability of suitable cargo space on certain flights. 

These factors can increase airline costs while the aviation network adjusts, which may occasionally be reflected in revised flight quotations. 

Please be aware that our cost to you remains the same during this time. All additional fees are external.

Our team will always work to identify the most practical and safe routing options available for each pet. 

Why travelling sooner may sometimes be beneficial 

When major aviation routes reopen after disruption, airlines often face a backlog of delayed cargo shipments and limited cargo space. At the same time, fuel prices and operational costs may remain elevated for a period. 

For certain destinations, quarantine facilities and arrival bookings can also become heavily booked once travel begins to return to normal. If blood tests, vaccinations or parasitic control are required within timeframes, these time periods may lapse and they will need to be restarted, resulted in further delay. 

For these reasons, customers who are able to travel using available alternative routes may find that proceeding sooner can help avoid future delays or additional preparation requirements. 

Our team can guide each client through the available options so they can make an informed decision about what works best for their pet and their relocation plans. 

Our approach 

Our priority remains the safety and welfare of every pet entrusted to us. 

We continue to monitor airline operations daily and work directly with cargo teams, international handlers and veterinary partners to identify safe travel solutions as the situation evolves. 

If a client’s travel plans are affected, we will contact them directly with updated guidance and available options.

Are flights currently cancelled in the Middle East?

Some airspace across the region has been temporarily restricted.

This has resulted in:

• Flight rerouting
• Short notice cancellations
• Delays at major hub airports
• Increased pressure on airline schedules

Airlines are continually adjusting routes to prioritise safety. In many cases, flights are operating via alternative air corridors. In some cases flights are taking longer routes or making technical fuel stops in order to avoid restricted airspace.

This is a dynamic situation and changes can happen quickly.

I am due to travel soon. What should I do?

If your pet is scheduled to travel in the coming days or weeks:

• You do not need to contact us immediately.
• If you’re directly affected you’ll be contacted by our team as soon as we receive confirmed airline updates.
• We are actively monitoring routing changes, airport status and airline communications.

If a flight is cancelled or rerouted, we will:

• Liaise directly with the airline
• Secure the next safest available routing
• Keep you informed at every stage

Your pet’s safety remains the priority in every decision.

Why routes and costs may sometimes change 

During periods of aviation disruption, airlines sometimes need to operate longer routes or use alternative transit airports to avoid restricted airspace. 

For live animal transport this can involve additional logistics such as different aircraft, approved transit facilities, or extra ground handling requirements. These adjustments help ensure pets continue to travel safely and in full compliance with international animal welfare regulations. 

Where changes are necessary, our team works directly with airline cargo departments to secure the safest available routing for your pet. 

Will this affect relocations planned for later this year?

At this stage, it is too early to predict long term disruption.
Historically, temporary airspace restrictions are resolved through:

• Alternative airline routing
• Schedule adjustments
• Short term capacity changes

Relocations that are several months away are less likely to be directly affected than immediate departures, although airline routes and transit airports may change while the situation stabilises.

If you are relocating in three to six months, it is important to continue planning as normal.

Pet relocation involves preparation timelines, documentation, veterinary checks and in some destinations, blood tests or quarantine booking windows. Delaying preparation can create more complications than short term airspace changes.

Planning a relocation with your pet?

If you are planning to relocate with your pet later this year, now is still the best time to begin your research and preparation.

International pet travel involves several stages including veterinary documentation, airline approvals and destination entry requirements. These timelines often start months before a pet actually flies.

Requesting a quote now does not commit you to travel. It simply allows you to understand:

• preparation timelines for your destination
• likely travel routes and airline options
• documentation and veterinary requirements
• realistic costs for relocating your pet

During periods of global travel disruption, forward planning can actually give you more flexibility. If airline routes change closer to departure, preparation completed early gives us more options to adapt safely.

If you are considering relocating with your pet, you can request a quote here and our team will guide you through the process.

Is it safe to relocate to the UAE or other affected areas?

This is one of the most common questions being searched online.

Airspace restrictions do not automatically mean a country is unsafe to live in. They often reflect precautionary aviation measures rather than on the ground instability.

Corporate relocations, military postings and international school placements typically continue unless governments issue formal advisories.

We recommend:

• Monitoring official UK government travel advice
• Speaking to your employer or relocation advisor
• Continuing logistical preparation for your pet

PetAir does not make geopolitical predictions. What we can do is ensure that whenever your pet travels, the routing is compliant, safe and carefully managed.

What happens if the situation escalates?

If disruption increases:

• Airlines will suspend routes before operating unsafely
• We will not move pets into restricted airspace
• Clients will be contacted directly with alternative options

We plan around uncertainty every day. Weather, industrial action and airline schedule changes are already built into how we operate.

Geopolitical changes are handled in the same structured way.

How PetAir is supporting clients right now

• Continuous monitoring of airline routing and airspace notices
• Direct communication with airline cargo teams
• Flexible rebooking where required
• Clear client updates

Our role is to absorb operational complexity, so you don’t have to.

If you are relocating in the next 3 to 12 months

Continue your research. Continue planning. Continue preparing.

Pet relocation is a process, not a last-minute booking.

If you are:

• Moving for work
• Returning to the UK
• Starting a new role abroad
• Joining family overseas

Now is the time to understand your preparation pathway.