Kazakhstan’s national airline, Air Astana, has temporarily suspended its regular flights from Almaty and Astana to Dubai due to the escalating security situation in the Middle East.

According to the airline, the suspension will remain in effect from March 11 through March 31, as tensions in the region continue to raise safety concerns, The Caspian Post reports, citing Kazakh media.

The decision was taken as a precautionary measure amid the deteriorating regional environment.

Passengers affected by the cancelled flights are being offered several options. Air Astana said travellers may receive a full refund without any penalties or rebook their tickets free of charge for flights scheduled between April 1 and May 31.

The flight suspension comes amid broader measures taken by Kazakhstan in response to the regional escalation. Earlier reports indicated that the country had temporarily suspended the operation of 11 polling stations across 10 countries due to the security situation.