Global airlines cancelled or rerouted flights on Friday after multiple countries in the Middle East shut their airspace in response to Israeli airstrikes on military and nuclear sites in Iran.
Israel, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, and Syria all closed their skies amid rising regional tensions. Israel said the strikes prompted retaliatory drone launches by Tehran.
Emirates, the largest airline in the Middle East, suspended flights to and from Iran, Iraq, Jordan, and Lebanon. Qatar Airways also announced temporary cancellations to Iran and Iraq, citing the “current situation in the region.”
Air France suspended all flights to and from Tel Aviv “until further notice”, stating it was monitoring developments in real time and prioritizing “the safety of its customers and crews.”
Lufthansa Group said it would suspend flights to Tehran and extend its suspension of service to Tel Aviv until the end of July.
Air India diverted or recalled 16 international flights to avoid Iranian airspace. Two flights — from New Delhi to Vienna and Mumbai to London — were forced to turn back mid-flight as Israel launched its attack, according to aircraft tracking service Flight Aware.
In the United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi Airport warned of ongoing flight disruptions, while Dubai International Airport also reported delays and cancellations due to airspace closures over Iran, Iraq, and Syria.
The widespread disruption underscores the escalating impact of the Israel-Iran conflict on international aviation and regional stability.
