KLM struggles to rebook passengers after Middle East flight cancellations

KLM is facing challenges rebooking travelers after temporarily suspending flights to several Middle Eastern destinations due to escalating geopolitical tensions.

The airline has not yet offered replacement flights for affected passengers on Saturday or Sunday. “As soon as it is possible, passengers will be rebooked,” the company said on its website.

KLM has halted flights to Dubai, Tel Aviv in Israel, and the Saudi Arabian cities of Riyadh and Dammam. The airline cited “the geopolitical situation” as the reason. In Iran, widespread protests against the regime have been violently suppressed, and U.S. President Donald Trump announced this week that American warships are en route to the country.

Other airlines have also canceled flights in the region. Air France called off its Paris-to-Dubai flights scheduled for Friday and Saturday. British Airways suspended flights to Bahrain, home to a U.S. naval fleet headquarters.

Transavia, KLM’s low-cost subsidiary under the Air France-KLM group, will cancel flights from Schiphol to Dubai on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. A spokesperson said the cancellations were partly due to safety concerns.