After Iran launched a drone strike against Israel on the 13th of April, several Middle Eastern countries shut down their airspace for flights. This drone attack comes just a few days following an Israeli airstrike against the Iranian embassy in Damascus that killed seven officers of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Multiple airlines canceled or diverted flights over the region due to the worsening geopolitical climate.
The Israel Airports Authority released this statement about the airspace closure:
“In accordance with the guidance of the security system, starting at (12:30 am) the airspace of the state of Israel will be closed to international and domestic flights.”
Meanwhile, Lebanon’s Public Works Minister Ali Hamie said about its airspace:
“Therefore, air navigation at Beirut Rafic Hariri International Airport has been completely closed during this period…provided that this will be updated an reviewed according to developments.”
Finally, Iraq’s Transport Minister Razzak al-Saadawi said: “Iraq’s airspace has been closed and air traffic has been halted.”
The following carriers have canceled flights to Israel or Jordan for April 14:
- Aegean Airlines: Athens (ATH) to Tel Aviv
- Air Canada: Toronto (YYZ) to Tel Aviv
- Air France: Paris-Charles de Gaulle (CDG) to Tel Aviv
- British Airways: London-Heathrow (LHR) to Tel Aviv and Amman
- El Al: 14 flights to or from Tel Aviv
- Emirates: Dubai (DXB) to Amman
- Ethiopian Airlines: Addis Ababa (ADD) to Tel Aviv
- FlyDubai: Dubai to Tel Aviv
- LOT Polish Airlines: Warsaw (WAW) to Tel Aviv
- Pegasus Airlines: Istanbul (SAW) and Antalya (AYT) to Amman
- Royal Jordanian: Baghdad (BGW) to Amman
- Saudia: Jeddah (JED) to Amman
- Swiss International Air Lines: Zürich (ZRH) to Tel Aviv
- Turkish Airlines: Istanbul (IST) to Amman
- Wizz Air: Bucharest (OTP) to Tel Aviv
Several airlines have rerouted flights going over Iran’s airspace, including those not serving destinations in the Middle East. The carriers that changed their routes include the following:
- Aeroflot: A flight from Moscow to Tehran diverted to Makhachkala (MCX) in Russia’s Dagestan region. The carrier said the flight would return to Moscow after refueling. Aeroflot’s routes to Egypt and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) were also postponed.
- Air India: A flight to London-Heathrow took a longer route on April 13 to avoid Iranian airspace. The carrier later stopped flying over Iran for all flights. What will happen to Air India’s route between Delhi (DEL) and Tel Aviv is currently unknown.
- Etihad Airways: Multiple flights connecting Abu Dhabi (AUH) to Europe and North America will be redirected on April 14. They will now go over Saudi Arabia and Egypt.
- Flydubai: An airline spokesperson said it will “make any amendments to our schedule accordingly.”
- KLM: Although the airline will continue flying between Amsterdam (AMS) and Tel Aviv, other flights will not go over Israel or Iran.
- Kuwait Airways: Flights over “the areas of tension” will be diverted.
- Malaysia Airlines: Kuala Lumpur (KUL) to London-Heathrow
- Qantas: Flights from Perth (PER) to London-Heathrow are now making a refueling stop in Singapore (SIN). The return flight will continue to be nonstop. The carrier’s other route from London, which serves Singapore, will take a different flight path.
Complete details source aeroxplorer
