Flight operations across the Middle East and surrounding regions are showing tentative signs of recovery after several days of severe disruption triggered by escalating regional tensions, aviation data provider VariFlight said on Friday.

While cancellations remain elevated and the rebound uneven, data from VariFlight shows a gradual stabilization over the past three days.

Between Tuesday and Thursday, the number of flights operated in the region climbed from 5,093 to 5,944, while the cancellation rate eased from 35.1 percent to 27 percent.

Several China-bound routes have also resumed operations in the past two days, including flights connecting Istanbul to Beijing, Dubai to Shanghai, Cairo to Chengdu, and Riyadh to Beijing.

Looking ahead, schedules suggest that airlines are gradually stabilizing operations. The cancellation rate is expected to decline from 22.5 percent on Saturday to 18.3 percent by March 12, though flights involving Iran and Iraq remain among the most heavily disrupted, VariFlight said.

As flights slowly resumed, Chinese travel agencies were also working to help consumers caught up in the disruption and mitigate their financial losses.

In one case, four Chinese tourists in their 60s traveling in Abu Dhabi sought urgent help after their return flights were cancelled. The group included a cancer patient and several people with chronic illnesses who were running out of medication.

Trip.com Group secured complimentary extended hotel stays by providing proof of flight cancellations, sourced the required prescription drugs locally, and liaised with the Chinese consulate to expedite medical documentation.

Through the platform's rebooking efforts, the group secured seats on an earlier Emirates flight, allowing them to return to China on Thursday, about 48 hours after initially seeking assistance and two days ahead of their rescheduled itinerary.

"You didn't just help us change a ticket — you saved our lives," one of the travelers, surnamed Dou, wrote to the customer service staff after returning to China.

Trip.com Group activated its emergency response mechanisms following the initial escalation on Feb 28. As of Wednesday, the company said it had processed more than 40,000 affected orders spanning flights, hotels, and vacation packages, recovering more than 200 million yuan ($27.8 million) in potential losses for travelers.