Abu Dhabi: Escalating tensions between Iran and Israel have led several countries across the Middle East to close their airspaces, significantly disrupting air travel temporarily. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps of Iran conducted numerous drone and missile attacks on Israel on Saturday, heightening the possibility of an unpredictable and extensive regional conflict. This situation necessitates heightened caution for travelers.
Flight disruptions:
- Several airlines cancelled or diverted flights, including Emirates, Etihad, Flydubai, Air France, British Airways, Lufthansa, and United Airlines.
- Qantas Airways rerouted flights between Australia and London to avoid the region.
Airspace closures:
- Israel closed its airspace entirely on Sunday.
- Jordan, Iraq, and Lebanon temporarily closed their airspace.
- Egypt suspended flights to Jordan, Iraq, and Lebanon due to airspace closures.
In response, Israel has announced a nationwide closure of schools and the shutdown of its airspace. Neighboring countries including Jordan, Iraq, and Lebanon have also enacted temporary airspace closures. These measures have affected numerous flights across the region, with airlines forced to cancel, divert, or reroute flights.
Emirates canceled its Dubai-Amman flight scheduled for Sunday, while Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways is rerouting flights to Europe and North America to avoid the closed airspaces. Similarly, Air France and British Airways have canceled their flights to Israel and Jordan for Sunday. Lufthansa and United Airlines also called off their services to Israel.
Qantas Airways has adjusted the flight path for its services between Perth and London via Singapore, citing concerns over the unstable situation in the Middle East.
Jordan declared a state of emergency and extended its airspace closure until Sunday morning. The disruption also affected the Jordanian air traffic system, leading to the use of alternative navigation systems.
Lebanon and Iraq have also announced temporary closures of their airspaces, impacting all flights over their territories. Egypt has heightened its air defense readiness, and EgyptAir has suspended flights to and from Jordan, Iraq, and Lebanon.
These airspace closures and reroutings are precautions taken in light of the ongoing conflict, and travelers are advised to check with their airlines for the latest updates on their flights.
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