Airlines adjust operations amid Middle East tensions

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.