TEL AVIV- Airlines including El Al (LY), Emirates (EK), Lufthansa (LH), and Air India (AI) suspended or rerouted flights across the Middle East on Friday, June 13, 2025, following Israel’s strikes on Iranian military targets.
Ben Gurion Airport (TLV) was temporarily shut down, while Iranian airspace and parts of Iraq (BGW) and Jordan (AMM) were closed, prompting carriers to divert ongoing flights and cancel future ones.
Flights Affected by Conflict
Following Israeli military strikes reportedly targeting Iran’s nuclear facilities, ballistic missile sites, and military leaders, multiple Middle Eastern airspaces—including those of Israel, Iran, Iraq, and Jordan—were closed to commercial aviation.
Airlines quickly reacted to ensure the safety of their passengers and crews by diverting or canceling scheduled flights.
Ben Gurion Airport (TLV), Israel’s main international gateway, suspended operations. Israel’s flag carrier, El Al (LY), halted all departures and arrivals, and later moved its aircraft out of the country as a precaution. Israir also relocated aircraft abroad.
Iran issued a full airspace closure, impacting overflight routes heavily used by carriers operating between Europe, North America, and Asia.
Iraqi authorities closed their airspace and all airport operations, cutting off a key flight corridor that connects the Gulf to Europe. Jordan followed suit, implementing temporary airspace restrictions later the same day.
Airlines Cancel, Divert Flights Across Affected Regions
Multiple international carriers made rapid adjustments:
- Air India (AI) diverted or returned flights over Iranian airspace, including services from JFK (New York), ORD (Chicago), LHR (London), and YVR (Vancouver).
- Lufthansa (LH) suspended all flights to and from Tehran (IKA).
- Aeroflot (SU) canceled services between Moscow (SVO) and Tehran, while modifying other regional routes.
- Emirates (EK) rerouted several flights, including one from Manchester (MAN) to Dubai (DXB), which was diverted to Istanbul (IST).
- flydubai (FZ) suspended flights to Amman (AMM), Beirut (BEY), Damascus (DAM), Israel, and Iran, while diverting others, such as a Belgrade (BEG)–Dubai (DXB) flight to Yerevan (EVN).
- Qatar Airways (QR) canceled scheduled flights to Damascus (DAM), Iran, and Iraq.
These diversions led to increased use of alternate air corridors over Central Asia and Saudi Arabia.
Air India Flights were Majorly Impacted
Air India (AI), which regularly uses Iranian and Iraqi airspace for its long-haul network, diverted or returned multiple Europe- and North America-bound flights. Affected services include:
Diverted Flights:
- AI130: London Heathrow (LHR) to Mumbai (BOM) → Diverted to Vienna (VIE)
- AI102: New York JFK (JFK) to Delhi (DEL) → Diverted to Sharjah (SHJ)
- AI116: New York JFK (JFK) to Mumbai (BOM) → Diverted to Jeddah (JED)
- AI2018: London Heathrow (LHR) to Delhi (DEL) → Diverted to Mumbai (BOM)
- AI188: Vancouver (YVR) to Delhi (DEL) → Diverted to Jeddah (JED)
- AI101: Delhi (DEL) to New York JFK (JFK) → Diverted to Frankfurt (FRA)/Milan (MXP)
- AI126: Chicago (ORD) to Delhi (DEL) → Diverted to Jeddah (JED)
- AI132: London Heathrow (LHR) to Bengaluru (BLR) → Diverted to Sharjah (SHJ)
- AI2016: London Heathrow (LHR) to Delhi (DEL) → Diverted to Vienna (VIE)
- AI104: Washington D.C. (IAD) to Delhi (DEL) → Diverted to Vienna (VIE)
- AI190: Toronto (YYZ) to Delhi (DEL) → Diverted to Frankfurt (FRA)
Returned to Origin:
- AI129: Mumbai (BOM) to London Heathrow (LHR)
- AI119: Mumbai (BOM) to New York JFK (JFK)
- AI103: Delhi (DEL) to Washington D.C. (IAD)
- AI106: Newark (EWR) to Delhi (DEL)
Safety and Security Implications for Global Aviation
Flight risk monitoring platforms such as Safe Airspace and Osprey Flight Solutions advised operators to exercise extreme caution. With six commercial aircraft unintentionally shot down since 2001 and three near-misses, flight operations over conflict zones remain high-risk.
Eastern Iraq’s airspace, near the Iran border, serves as one of the busiest corridors for long-haul flights between Europe and Asia. With rerouted traffic avoiding hostile territories, global air traffic has become more congested in alternative regions, adding operational complexity and cost burdens.
The Israel–Iran escalation marks another serious flashpoint in aviation risk management. Airlines worldwide are reassessing safety protocols for overflying volatile regions.
Carriers are expected to continue monitoring developments and adapting their networks accordingly, potentially reshaping global flight routes depending on how long the airspace restrictions remain in effect.
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