According to the news, Dubai International Airport has been closed due to the impact of the Iranian attacks, causing travel disruptions for hundreds of thousands.

Korean Air has decided to temporarily suspend its Incheon-Dubai route until the 5th. As a result, mass flight cancellations for travelers scheduled to visit Dubai during this period have become unavoidable.

Middle Eastern airlines such as Etihad, Emirates, and Qatar Airways are also experiencing delays and cancellations, so travelers need to frequently check the announcements from their respective airlines.

A representative from Yanatip stated, "We believe that the current tensions in the Middle East will be difficult to resolve in the short term. In particular, airlines are expected to choose detours or cancel flights for safety reasons, leading to increased travel costs and schedule disruptions."

"Why is my flight to Europe canceled just because an airport in the Middle East is closed?"

It turns out that Dubai is not just any city; it is a crossroads of air travel.

Whenever Dubai Airport shuts down due to geopolitical issues like the Iran-Israel conflict, airport departure boards around the world are filled with 'Cancelled' notices.

Is it simply because it's a 'big airport'? No, it's not.

Open a map and place a compass on it. Dubai is located right in the center of Europe, Asia, and Africa.

Traveling from London to India? Dubai. Going from Paris to Southeast Asia? Dubai. Flying from Germany to Australia? Again, Dubai.

From the airlines' perspective, it's much more profitable to gather passengers in Dubai and then disperse them again rather than flying directly with a full tank of fuel.

With its location, Dubai has monopolized global 'transfer business.'

When people think of the Middle East, they often think of 'oil money,' but in reality, Dubai has much less oil compared to its neighbor Abu Dhabi.

"What will we do when the oil runs out? Forget it, let's open up the skies!" This desperation turned out to be a brilliant move.

The government relaxed visa regulations, built airports like palaces, and went all-in on attracting people from around the world, resulting in the current aviation hub.

And when you think of Dubai, Emirates Airlines comes to mind. Their strategy is simple.

"All roads in the world lead to Dubai!"

In fact, most passengers using Dubai Airport don't even get their entry stamps.

They get off the plane, do some shopping at the duty-free, and immediately transfer to another flight.

This 'Hub & Spoke' model is the textbook example of Dubai.

In reality, Dubai Airport is not just large; it is 'overwhelmingly' large.

It is the busiest hub for the super-sized A380 aircraft, often referred to as 'hotels in the sky.'

With massive aircraft that carry 300-400 passengers at a time, when this place stops, hundreds of global routes are canceled like dominoes.

Ultimately, Dubai is not just a city; it is a 'giant terminal' connecting the global air network.

When this crossroads built in the middle of the desert comes to a halt, it is akin to temporarily blocking the skies of the entire planet.

If you have travel plans and the news from Dubai seems concerning, you might want to keep a close eye on it.