Travellers will need to “get creative” if they wish to fly in the coming days, an expert has warned, with hundreds of thousands of people stranded or diverted to other airports after mass airspace closures across the Middle East.

Israel, Qatar, Syria, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait and Bahrain have all shut down their airspaces. No flight activity was recorded over the United Arab Emirates as per flight tracking website FlightRadar24, which the UAE government has announced a “temporary and partial closure” of its airspace as

British Airways has said flights to Tel Aviv and Bahrain will be suspended until next week, and flights to Amman, Jordan, were cancelled Saturday.

Ensure our latest news headlines always appear at the top of your Google Search by making us a Preferred Source. Click here to activate or add us as Preferred Source in your Google search settings.

That led to the closure of key hub airports in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha, and the cancellation of more than 1,000 flights by major Middle Eastern airlines.

The three major airlines that operate at those airports – Emirates, Qatar Airways and Etihad – typically have about 90,000 passengers per day passing through those hubs and even more travellers headed to destinations in the Middle East, according to aviation analytics firm Cirium. Dubai international airport is the world’s busiest airport for international flights.

Airline industry analyst and president of Atmosphere Research Group Henry Harteveldt said, via AP: “For travellers, there’s no way to sugarcoat this… you should prepare for delays or cancellations for the next few days as these attacks evolve and hopefully end.”

“Travellers should anticipate that there will be a lot of disruptions,” he said, before adding: “To be honest, if you haven’t left home, chances are you won’t be leaving home if you’re supposed to travel to or through these destinations for at least several days, if not longer. And if you are returning home, you will have to be very creative about how you get home.”

BRITISH AIRWAYS: FULL STATEMENT ON FLIGHTS TO AND FROM THE MIDDLE EAST

BA issued a statement on its website late on Saturday (February 28) for any travellers who may be impacted by the current situation currently unfolding in the Middle East.

Here is the statement in full:

We are closely monitoring the situation and have cancelled a number of our flights to the Middle East. Safety is always our top priority and we would never operate a flight unless it was safe to do so.

If you are due to fly between London Heathrow and Abu Dhabi, Amman, Bahrain, Doha, Dubai or Tel Aviv you can change your flight free of charge up to and including 6 March. Customers travelling up to and including 4 March may also request a full refund.

If you would like to do this, please call our contact centres on 0800 727 800 in the UK or 020 3250 0145 where a member of our team will be happy to assist. You can also find useful information, including details of your consumer rights, at ba.com/helpme.

Thank you for your understanding and we look forward to welcoming you on board soon.

BA’s statement comes as airlines serving the Middle East cancelled or diverted flights en masse on Saturday in the wake of US and Israeli airstrikes against on Iran.

Iran responded by launching a series of attacks, with Israel and four Gulf Arab countries that host US military bases – Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and the UAE – targeted by strikes.

British Airways, Virgin Atlantic and Wizz Air were among carriers to scale back their schedules to destinations in the Middle East, citing safety concerns.

The UK Foreign Office urged British nationals in Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to immediately shelter in place following explosions.

UK Foreign Office issues advice for Britons trapped in Dubai

For any Britons currently in the UAE, the Foreign Office issued a new directive overnight.

Any citizens already in the UAE are urged to let the UK government know by registering your presence for further updates as the situation continues to unfold in the Middle East.

“Due to reported missile attacks, British nationals in the UAE should immediately shelter in place. Remain indoors in a secure location, avoid all travel and follow instructions from the local authorities.”

The FDCO added that British nationals in the UAE should take sensible precautions, considering their own individual circumstances.

– Read the UK Government’s fact sheet If you’re affected by a crisis abroad.This includes guidance on how to prepare for a crisis with suggestions on what you might include in your emergency supplies and what to do in a crisis

– Follow advice from the local authorities and sign up to receive information and alerts. Read the FDCO fact sheet: National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority’s guidance across numerous emergencies

– Sign up to FCDO Travel Advice to get email notifications on updates as they happen.