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Daniel Williams
August 21, 2026
Credit: Patrick T. Fallon/AFP/Getty Images
Six months on from the start of the Iran war, this week’s Flight Friday reviews the impact of the conflict on Middle Eastern operators, showcasing changes in utilization in 2026 compared with the equivalent month in 2025.
Splitting the narrowbody and widebody into separate data points, the widebody market, when comparing aggregated monthly flight cycles, started 2026 well, with a positive uptick in flights.
However, once the conflict began at the end of February, flights were understandably paused, and utilization dropped by over 50%.
Since March, the region’s widebody aircraft have made marked improvements in their utilization. A relatively small 5% drop was observed in July as Middle East operators started restoring their long-haul route networks.
The narrowbody market, like the widebody market, suffered a drop of over 50% in March 2026.
However, narrowbody operations have been impacted more severely due to increased intra-regional flying in an area heavily restricted by the ongoing conflict. The narrowbody sector has been slower to return, with an almost 10% drop still observed in July.
While there is no long-term resolution to the prolonged conflict, Middle Eastern operations will continue to be impacted.
