Passengers travelling between Western Europe and the Middle East have been plunged into chaos after the United States and Israel launched strikes on Iran, triggering widespread airspace closures and the suspension of dozens of international routes.

The “major combat operation”, confirmed by US president Donald Trump early on Saturday, prompted Iran and Iraq to shut their airspace as missiles were exchanged between Israel and Iran. The immediate consequence was a near-total halt to normal east–west flight corridors across the region.

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