MIDDLE EAST- In light of heightened tensions between Israel and Iran, airlines have been modifying flight paths and canceling flights. Iran recently launched numerous drones and missiles toward Israel, viewed as a retaliatory measure following an airstrike on the Iranian consulate in Syria the previous week.
As a result of these developments, flights into Tel Aviv (TLV) have faced diversions and cancellations. At the same time, airspace over Israel, Iran, Iraq, and Jordan has been either closed or subject to significant restrictions.
Airlines Cancel and Divert Flights
Daniel Hagari, spokesperson for the Israel Defense Forces, stated on Saturday night that most of the missiles had been intercepted and that the attacks caused only minor damage, as reported on X, formerly known as Twitter.
On Saturday, American Airlines (AA) canceled its flights between Philadelphia and Doha, Qatar, in response to the attacks.
El Al (LY), the Israeli national carrier, canceled over a dozen flights from Tel Aviv due to the prevailing situation.
United Airlines (UA), a major carrier, canceled its Tel Aviv service on Saturday and later canceled its Saturday flight to Amman, Jordan. However, the carrier currently does not plan to cancel its Sunday service to Tel Aviv.
A spokesperson from United Airlines explained the cancellations of Saturday’s Newark to Tel Aviv flight and its return leg, citing airspace restrictions over Israel. The spokesperson emphasized their commitment to monitoring the situation closely and prioritizing the safety of passengers and crew when making decisions about upcoming flights.
Changing Routes
Etihad Airways (EY) reported adjustments to its routes, rerouting some European and North American flights to overfly Saudi Arabia and Egypt following the closure of airspace over Israel, Jordan, and Iraq. The airline later announced the cancellation of flights to Tel Aviv and Amman on Sunday.
Swiss Airlines (LX) suspended its flight operations to and from Tel Aviv until further notice, citing airspace closures due to the ongoing situation. The airline is evaluating the necessity of diverting flights that have already departed. Following Iran’s attack on Israeli territory, Swiss aircraft are avoiding the airspace of Iran, Iraq, and Israel.
Flydubai (FZ) experienced disruptions to some flights due to the temporary closure of airspaces in the region. The airline is closely monitoring the situation and will adjust its schedule accordingly.
Delta Air Lines (DL), which resumed service to Israel in March, has not confirmed if it has halted flights to Tel Aviv due to the attack.
Qantas Airways (QF) announced on Friday that it would avoid flying over Middle East airspace.
Kuwait Airways (KU) stated on Saturday that it would divert all its flights away from areas of tension.
Airspace Closure Update
Aviation tracking service Flightradar24 reported the closure or heavy restriction of airspace in neighboring countries, including Iraq, which is significant given that these air corridors are typically heavily used by flights between Europe and Asia.
Here’s the latest update as of 04:40 UTC time, according to official NOTAMs:
- Iran airspace is closed, except for VFR flights.
- Jordan airspace remains closed until 08:00.
- Iraq airspace is closed until 08:30.
- The closure of Lebanon airspace expired at 04:00.
- The closure of Israel airspace also expired at 04:00.
Earlier in the week, U.S. intelligence agencies issued reports indicating an imminent attack from Iran on Israel. Following the public disclosure of these intelligence reports, Lufthansa decided to suspend flights to Tehran. Similarly, Qantas announced its decision not to fly over Middle East airspace on Friday.
Whether the U.S. will implement comparable restrictions on Middle East airspace if tensions continue escalating remains uncertain.
Following the onset of the Israel-Gaza war in early October 2023, most international carriers ceased all flights to Tel Aviv. However, several airlines, including Delta Air Lines, easyJet, and British Airways, have recently resumed services to the country.
Stay tuned with us. Further, follow us on social media for the latest updates.
Join us on Telegram Group for the Latest Aviation Updates. Subsequently, follow us on Google News.