British Airways canceled all their flights due to two main reasons: serious disruptions caused by Middle East airspace closures and ongoing technical issues with their aircraft fleet. In June 2025, rising tensions in the Middle East led to the closure of airspace in key regions, including Qatar, Bahrain, and Kuwait. This followed a wave of military activity involving Iran and the United States, which raised serious safety concerns for commercial flights. As a result, British Airways had to suspend flights to and from affected areas such as Doha and Dubai. These airspace closures made normal operations impossible, forcing the airline to cancel many international routes that passed through these regions. The safety of passengers and crew was the top priority, and the airline decided it was best to halt operations temporarily rather than risk flying through potentially dangerous areas.

In addition to the geopolitical issues, British Airways was already dealing with a separate crisis involving its fleet. In late 2024 and continuing into 2025, the airline had to ground a number of Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft due to problems with their Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engines. These engines were showing signs of premature wear and required urgent maintenance. However, supply chain delays meant that replacement engines and parts were not available on time, leading to long downtimes for several planes. With fewer planes available, British Airways had already reduced service on several long-haul routes. The unexpected closure of Middle Eastern airspace only made the situation worse, as it increased pressure on an already limited number of aircraft.

Because of the combination of these two major issues—regional instability and aircraft shortages—British Airways was forced to cancel a large number of flights, including all scheduled services on certain days. Thousands of passengers were affected, facing delays, cancellations, and disruption to their travel plans. The airline offered rebooking options on future flights, travel vouchers, full refunds, or rerouting through partner airlines where possible. For customers stranded at airports, British Airways provided assistance such as hotel accommodation, meals, and updates about alternative arrangements. The airline also made efforts to contact all affected passengers through email, text messages, and their app, keeping them informed as the situation developed.

In response to the aircraft engine issues, British Airways worked closely with Rolls-Royce to speed up the delivery of parts and return grounded planes to service. At the same time, they continued to monitor the security situation in the Middle East and adjusted flight schedules based on changing airspace rules and safety advisories. The airline stressed that safety and customer service remained its top priorities throughout the disruption. In summary, the mass flight cancellations were the result of two overlapping problems—one caused by international conflict and the other by internal fleet limitations. British Airways took emergency steps to manage the situation and minimize the impact on travelers as much as possible.