Quantcast

Airlines adjust operations amid Middle East tensions

Air India Warned Over Crew Fatigue and Training Failures Following Fatal Crash
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy may deny flights from Mexico over broken aviation agreement
Plane Makes Emergency Landing After ‘Unruly’ Passenger Attempts to Open Exit Door Mid-Flight
American Airlines Launches Ultra‑Long‑Haul DFW–Manila Flights
Thousands of flights canceled or delayed across America's busiest airports
Summer flight delays to be 'worst ever' this year - what to do if affected
Emirates operates with SAF at London Heathrow Airport
British Airways Introduces Brunch Service on Long-Haul Flights
AirAsia FREE SEATS is BACK! - Book Cheap Flight now!
FAA Investigating After JetBlue Plane Skids Off Runway
Virgin Atlantic Offers Family-Friendly Holiday Packages
The Billion-Dollar Outlier That's Rescuing San Francisco Tourism
New Heathrow Security Rule Makes Packing Bags Easier for Travelers
Alaska Airlines Adding More Boeing 787 to Boost Seattle Hub
Ryanair cancels 170 flights, disrupts over 30,000 passengers on French ATC strike
What to Know About Travel to Europe During This Record-Breaking Heatwave
Airport Workers Save the Day After Woman Loses Diamond from Her Engagement Ring in Baggage Carousel
I never talk to strangers on the plane. After my dad died, a passenger helped me talk about my grief.
American Airlines reveals new summer route: Miami → Rome
Budget UK airline launches huge sale with £29 flights to 475 holiday hotspots – but you’ll have to be quick
Delta Passengers Can Book a ‘Last Mile’ Private Jet Charter to Europe This Summer
Honeywell Runway Safety Technology Selected by Southwest Airlines for Fleetwide Installation
Southwest Airlines Adds Cockpit Alerts to Boost Runway Safety
FAA Drone Detection Testing
This Airline Is Going to Start Handing Out $675 Fines to 'Unruly' Passengers: 'It Is Unacceptable'
Summer of savings? New analysis shows airfare has dropped significantly - The Points Guy
FAA Admits Uncertainty On Drone Numbers In U.S. Airspace, Raising Safety Concerns
Travelers are taking extreme measures and using hacks to avoid airline baggage fees
Pigeons Cause Chaos on Delta Flight
United Airlines’ Uniforms Get A Facelift—And A Political Filter
Airlines adjust operations amid Middle East tensions
Policy
Webp john strickland
John Strickland Aviation consultant | Official Website

Geopolitical tensions in the Middle East have recently escalated, leading to significant disruptions in air travel across the region. Airlines such as Emirates, Qatar Airways, and Etihad Airways have either canceled flights or altered routes due to airspace closures over parts of Israel, Iraq, and Jordan.

European carriers including Lufthansa, Air France-KLM, and Wizz Air are also affected. They have canceled or rerouted numerous flights over the past few days. The situation adds to existing operational challenges for airlines already avoiding Russian routes and managing extended flight times.

According to Flightradar24 data, more than 3,000 flights have been canceled daily since the conflict between Israel and Iran intensified last week. European airlines are particularly impacted due to recurring instability in the region throughout the year. Some carriers have repeatedly suspended and reinstated flights to Tel Aviv following conflicts involving Israel since late 2023.

Get the Newsletter
Sign-up to receive weekly round up of news from Sky Industry News
By submitting, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. By providing your phone number you are opting in and consenting to receive recurring SMS/MMS messages, including automated texts, to that number from our short code. Msg & data rates may apply. Reply HELP for help, STOP to end. SMS opt-in will not be sold, rented, or shared.

Airlines now face limited routing options and are forced into a narrow corridor over Egypt and southern Saudi Arabia. While viable, these detours increase flight times and fuel costs on routes already extended to Asia. Lufthansa has confirmed that services from Frankfurt and Munich to destinations like Tokyo and Seoul now take up to an hour longer.

Aviation consultant John Strickland told the Financial Times that “anything that requires rerouting is expensive,” highlighting that operational flexibility in this region is limited.

The closure of Russian airspace since 2022 further strains European carriers. These restrictions have led airlines to alter or suspend several long-haul routes to East Asia, with some journeys extended by up to three hours depending on origin and destination.

Finnair has significantly restructured its network due to reliance on trans-Siberian routes. Current geopolitical tensions complicate routing options for European airlines navigating around both Russian and Middle Eastern airspaces.

The Financial Times reported that a source within a major European airline described the current situation as “more serious” than previous disruptions: “We have to go around Russia already, so it does make it very difficult.”

Dozens of international airlines have canceled or suspended services across the Middle East due to current restrictions affecting destinations such as Tel Aviv, Tehran, Amman, and Beirut. Many suspensions extend into July or later:

- Emirates has suspended flights until June 22 for Jordan and Lebanon; until June 30 for Iran and Iraq.

- Flydubai has halted operations in Iran, Iraq, Israel, Syria until June 30.

- Etihad Airways suspended Tel Aviv flights until June 22.

- Qatar Airways temporarily canceled flights over Iraq, Iran, Syria.

- El Al canceled its full schedule through June 23.

- British Airways stopped services until July 31 for Tel Aviv; until June 30 for Amman & Bahrain.

- Lufthansa Group halted flights until July 31 for Tel Aviv & Tehran; others until June 20.

- Pegasus Airlines ceased operations in Iran until June 19; Iraq/Jordan until June 16; Lebanon daylight ops only.

- United Airlines anticipates travel impacts between June 13 - August 1 for Tel Aviv.

- Wizz Air avoided Israeli/Iraqi/Iranian/Syrian airspace till September 15.

- Delta Air Lines expects impact from June 12 - August 31 at Tel Aviv.

Air France also suspended operations indefinitely after initially resuming service to Israel. Other affected airlines include Ryanair, KLM, Air Europa among others.

Organizations Included in this History
More News

Flying Food Group announced on LinkedIn that it recognized its culinary team in celebration of National Culinarians Day.

Jul 28, 2025

Google Flights continues to expand its offerings, according to a recent discussion between The Points Guy and James Byers, group product manager for travel at Google.

Jul 28, 2025

Delta Air Lines has released a statement following the announcement of a new trade agreement between the United States and the European Union.

Jul 28, 2025

Run The Runway took place at Chicago Executive Airport on July 26, 2025.

Jul 28, 2025

Emirates has introduced its new Airbus A350 aircraft to Bologna’s Guglielmo Marconi Airport, marking the first time this model is operated in Italy and making Bologna one of the first ten cities worldwide to receive it.

Jul 28, 2025

Citi has announced a significant partnership with American Airlines, allowing 1:1 point transfers from its ThankYou Rewards program to the airline's AAdvantage loyalty program.

Jul 27, 2025