After 21 hours of marathon talks in Islamabad ended on 12 April 2026 without a deal, the US and Iran are still locked in an unresolved standoff. On 21 April, President Donald Trump extended the ceasefire at Pakistan’s request to give negotiations more time — but the US Navy blockade of the Strait of Hormuz remains in force, and a scheduled second round of talks was called off.
On 22 April, Iran said it had seized two commercial ships in the Strait, and three other vessels came under fire in the same waterway. The situation for travellers through the Gulf is still fluid, even as some airlines have begun phased resumptions.
What happened in Islamabad
The Pakistan-mediated talks were the highest-level US–Iran meeting since 1979, and the most serious attempt yet to end the 2026 Iran war that began in late February.
Washington demanded a verifiable halt to Iran’s nuclear programme, while Tehran pushed for the release of USD 6 billion in frozen assets, an end to Israeli strikes on Hezbollah, and the right to levy tolls on ships crossing the Strait of Hormuz.
According to subsequent reporting, the two sides reached broad agreement on most points of a 10-point ceasefire framework, but could not bridge differences on the Strait of Hormuz or Iran’s nuclear programme. The initial two-week ceasefire that began on 7 April was due to expire on 22 April.
The ceasefire extension and what came next
On 21 April, Trump announced on Truth Social that he was extending the ceasefire until negotiations conclude, at Pakistan’s request. Vice President JD Vance’s planned trip to Islamabad for a second round of talks was cancelled the same day, and Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency reported that Tehran would not be sending a delegation to Islamabad on Wednesday 22 April.
Trump also made clear that the US naval blockade of Iranian ports remains in place during the extension. On 22 April, he said the blockade was costing Iran about USD 500 million a day.
Within hours of the extension, Iran’s navy said it had seized two container ships in the Strait of Hormuz, and reports emerged of three cargo ships being attacked in the same waterway. The Strait remains technically open to non-Iranian shipping, but insurance and operational risk have both risen sharply.
What this means for your travel
The Middle East’s airspace and shipping lanes are once again on high alert after a brief phase of stabilisation. Here’s what travellers need to know in plain terms:
- Parts of regional airspace are still closed or restricted. According to ops.group, Kuwait’s FIR remains fully closed, Qatar’s is closed to overflights with only limited arrivals and departures, and the UAE continues to run a restricted corridor system. Iran’s Tehran FIR partially reopened in the east on 18 April for overflights above FL285, while the west remains closed.
- Flights to and from the Gulf are longer. Routes are still detouring over Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and the Red Sea, adding roughly 60 to 90 minutes of flight time and pushing up fares.
- US-bound flights from the Gulf are still reduced. Emirates is operating 9 of its 12 US routes — New York JFK, Newark, Washington DC, Boston, Miami, Chicago, Dallas, San Francisco, and Seattle. Los Angeles, Houston, and Orlando remain suspended, with Emirates’ system showing a placeholder return date of 1 May 2026.
- Phased resumptions are under way. Since 21 April, several foreign airlines have started returning to Gulf hubs in phases, with more expected through late April. Flights to Dubai, Bahrain, and Doha resumed from 18 April, while flights to Kuwait, Copenhagen, and Baghdad remain cancelled until at least 30 April.
- Fares remain elevated. War-risk insurance premiums for aircraft are still high, and several carriers have kept fuel surcharges in place since the blockade was announced.
- Cruise and ferry travel involving Iranian ports is paused. The US Navy blockade specifically covers ships entering or leaving Iranian ports; vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz to and from non-Iranian ports are not being stopped, but attacks and seizures on 22 April have raised concern across the shipping industry.
- Travel advisories are active. The UK, US, Australia, and most EU states advise against non-essential travel to Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, and Israel, and urge caution when transiting Gulf hubs like Dubai, Doha, and Abu Dhabi.
- Rebooking and refund policies remain flexible. Major Gulf carriers — including Qatar Airways, Etihad, and Saudia — are offering fee-free changes and refunds for affected routes, subject to each airline’s published policy.
Where each major Gulf carrier stands
| Airline | Current status | Flexibility policy |
|---|---|---|
| Emirates | 9 of 12 US routes operating; LAX, IAH, MCO suspended (placeholder resumption 1 May) | Fee-free changes and refunds on disrupted routes |
| Qatar Airways | Partial resumption; Doha still closed to overflights with limited arrivals/departures | Unlimited free date changes for bookings 28 Feb–15 Sep 2026 (new travel by 31 Oct 2026); full refunds with no fee |
| Etihad | Partial resumption from Abu Dhabi under the UAE corridor system | Free rebooking within the same region or to a new destination within six months |
| Saudia | Dubai and Abu Dhabi routes resumed from 11 April; network broadly operating | Free rebooking to same destination within 14 days of route resumption; one-time cancellation fee waiver for refund or credit |
What to do now
If you have a trip booked in the next two weeks, contact your airline before travelling to confirm your flight is still operating and check for any last-minute schedule changes.
Keep an eye on your government’s official travel advisory — travel.state.gov for US citizens, gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice for UK residents — as guidance is being updated almost daily.
If your flight is cancelled by the airline, you are generally entitled to a full refund under most carriers’ conditions of carriage and applicable passenger-rights rules. Rebooking and travel credit may be offered as alternatives, but you can decline a voucher if you prefer a cash refund.
For live route updates and alternative connection options through less-affected hubs like Istanbul, Cairo, and Jeddah, use the Wego flight tracker.
Sources
- Al Jazeera — Trump Announces Extending Iran Ceasefire but Says Blockade Remains
- CNN — Live Updates: Trump Says He Will Extend Ceasefire With Iran Until Negotiations Conclude
- NPR — Iran Says It Seized Ships in Strait of Hormuz as U.S. Blockade Continues Amid Ceasefire
- CNBC — Iran Says It Has Seized Two Ships in Strait of Hormuz After U.S. Extends Ceasefire
- Al Jazeera — US and Iran Fail to Reach Peace Deal After Marathon Talks in Pakistan
- NPR — No Deal: U.S.–Iran Peace Talks in Islamabad Fall Through
- CNBC — Trump Says U.S. Will Blockade Strait of Hormuz After Iran Peace Talks Fail
- Military Times — US Navy to Blockade Strait of Hormuz ‘Effective Immediately’
- CNBC — Pentagon: Iran Blockade Near Hormuz Strait Deterred 13 Ships
- ops.group — Middle East Airspace: Current Operational Picture
- CNN — How Middle East Airspace Closures Are Reshaping Global Aviation
- US Department of State — Travel Advisories
- UK Government — Foreign Travel Advice
- Qatar Airways — Travel Alerts
Disclaimer: Wego strives to ensure all information presented in this article is accurate and up to date at the time of publication. Travel policies, prices, visa requirements, and conditions can change rapidly. We strongly recommend verifying critical details with official sources before making travel decisions. Wego does not accept liability for any inaccuracies, oversights, or changes that may occur after publication.
