Global cancellations surpass 37,000 amid Middle East conflict; Thailand logs 166 cancellations

Over 37,000 flights have been canceled worldwide due to the Middle East conflict, with major Gulf carriers affected. In Thailand, 166 flights were canceled between Feb 28 and Mar 3 (105 outbound, 61 inbound), impacting gateways including Phuket, Krabi, and Chiang Mai. International arrivals to Thailand declined in early March, particularly from long-haul markets. Rising fuel prices are increasing airline costs and could push fares higher. Authorities in Thailand are redirecting marketing efforts toward alternative source markets while monitoring potential longer-term impacts.

A global wave of flight cancellations has intensified amid the Middle East conflict, with more than 37,000 flights canceled worldwide since the onset of the crisis. The article highlights significant impacts on major Gulf-based carriers, specifically Emirates, Qatar Airways, Etihad Airways, and Gulf Air, which together carry a substantial share of traffic between Europe and Asia. The disruption has stranded passengers at key international hubs and weakened confidence in international travel flows.

Thailand has reported concrete operational impacts. Between 2026-02-28 and 2026-03-03, 166 flights were canceled nationwide—105 outbound and 61 inbound—affecting popular gateways including Phuket, Krabi, and Chiang Mai. Authorities indicated there were no passengers stranded in airports during that period. The private sector has called for coordinated government action, including a permanent public–private task force, alternative routings that avoid conflict zones, and financial measures to protect bookings.

Travel demand indicators show early March weakness. From March 1–9, 2026, Thailand welcomed over 741,000 international visitors, a 5.69% decline year over year. Long-haul markets showed the sharpest drops: Europe (-14.39%, or 41,957 fewer arrivals), the United States (-7.37%, or 3,447 fewer), and the Middle East (-76.51%, or 2,286 fewer). Although the Middle East typically accounts for a small share of Thailand’s arrivals, transit-linked effects are weighing on broader long-haul demand.

Forward-looking scenarios suggest larger potential tourism losses if the conflict continues. Estimates range from a three-week impact resulting in about 210,973 fewer tourists and THB 13.167 billion in lost revenue, to an eight-week scenario with around 595,874 fewer tourists and nearly THB 40.972 billion in losses. In response, the Tourism Authority of Thailand is pivoting toward alternative source markets such as China, India, Japan, and Australia, with a focus on high-spending segments and regional travel.

Airlines are also contending with elevated fuel prices of US $100–$120 per barrel, which are increasing operating costs and likely to lift airfares across routes. This is expected to pressure airline and hotel profitability and could further dampen both long-haul and short-haul demand in the near term.

This remains a live disruption with ongoing cancellations and delays linked to the conflict, alongside clear, date-specific cancellations recorded in Thailand between February 28 and March 3.