Airlines have begun cautiously restoring flights between the Middle East, China and Australia after days of sweeping cancellations triggered by escalating regional tensions, though aviation experts warn that the enormous travel backlog could take weeks to clear.

The disruption began after military escalation across the Middle East led multiple countries to close their airspace, forcing airlines worldwide to suspend routes that pass through one of the busiest aviation corridors linking Europe, Asia and Australia.

As safety conditions gradually stabilize, a limited number of flights have resumed from major Gulf hubs including Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

One of the earliest signs of recovery came when an Emirates flight departed Dubai for Guangzhou, marking the first commercial service to mainland China since operations resumed at Dubai International Airport.

Airlines have also restarted selected long-haul services toward Australia, with early flights arriving in Sydney after the suspension period.

Despite these developments, the scale of disruption has created a substantial backlog of passengers waiting to travel.

With thousands of flights cancelled and many aircraft and crews displaced across global networks, airlines face a complex logistical challenge in restoring normal schedules.

Industry experts say it could take several weeks before the aviation system fully absorbs the shock.

Even once airspace restrictions ease, airlines must reposition aircraft, reassign crews and rebook tens of thousands of travellers whose itineraries were abruptly cancelled.

The crisis has affected global travel far beyond the Middle East.

Major Gulf airports such as Dubai and Doha function as central transfer hubs for long-distance routes between Europe, Asia and Australia.

When those hubs suspended operations, the impact rippled through international airline schedules, forcing diversions, cancellations and lengthy delays across multiple continents.

In the early phase of the disruption, airlines turned back flights already en route or rerouted aircraft to avoid restricted airspace.

Some carriers suspended services entirely, while others operated only limited repatriation or cargo flights until safety assessments allowed commercial operations to resume.

Travel authorities have urged passengers to remain patient and monitor updates from their airlines as schedules are rebuilt.

Many carriers are offering rebooking options or refunds for affected travellers while gradually increasing flight capacity.

Governments are also responding to the disruption.

Australia has deployed crisis consular teams to assist citizens stranded in the Middle East, while other countries have organized evacuation flights or emergency support for nationals unable to depart.

Although flight activity is slowly returning, aviation specialists say the after-effects of the disruption will continue to be felt across the global travel system as airlines work through the accumulated delays and restore the intricate network of international connections.