SEOUL, March 03 (AJP) - With 17 days to go, BTS is pressing ahead with its long-awaited return, undeterred for now by escalating military tensions across the Middle East.
The group is set to release its fifth studio album on March 20, followed by a free concert at Gwanghwamun in central Seoul on March 21 — a symbolic stage meant to herald its first full-group comeback in nearly four years.
“The schedules will proceed as announced,” a source close to the matter said, adding that plans to include additional Middle East dates in the world tour calendar “will be put on hold.”
BTS will kick off its “ARIRANG” world tour on April 9 in Goyang, South Korea, with 82 performances planned across 23 countries over the next year.
While no immediate changes have been made to the announced itinerary, widening conflict in the Middle East has introduced logistical uncertainties.
Industry observers note that prolonged airspace closures and maritime disruptions could complicate global tour preparations.
Flight tracking service Flightradar24 reported that more than 4,000 flights per day have been cancelled across the Middle East. Aviation analytics firm Cirium said 79 percent of flights to Qatar and 71 percent to the United Arab Emirates were cancelled, with Israel and Bahrain seeing cancellation rates exceeding 80 percent.
Several regional carriers have suspended regular commercial operations, maintaining only limited special or repatriation flights as airspace restrictions persist.
The suspension of key Middle Eastern routes highlights the broader disruption to international travel in the region. While no BTS tour dates have been announced for Middle Eastern cities, prolonged flight cancellations could potentially affect fans planning cross-border travel for major live events, depending on how the situation evolves.
Large-scale stadium tours rely on intricate cross-border coordination, including the transport of stage structures, lighting systems, sound equipment and merchandise. Certain high-spec components are often shipped via air freight, making aviation disruptions a potential bottleneck.
For now, organizers say no direct impact on scheduled events has been identified.
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