British travelers heading abroad on long-haul journeys are facing significant disruptions as airlines scramble to reroute or cancel services following Iran’s unprecedented aggression toward Israel. The assault, which involved missiles and drones, has triggered a cascade of closures and detours for planes traversing the narrow aviation corridor between Europe and Asia.
The rapidly unfolding events have forced over ten prominent carriers—including easyJet, Qantas, KLM, Lufthansa, Wizz Air, United Airlines, and Air India—to modify or cancel flights within just two days. Such widespread turmoil in the industry has not been witnessed since the devastating terrorist attack on New York’s World Trade Center back in September 2001.
Lufthansa, a German flag carrier, has temporarily halted all operations to and from Iran, mirroring actions taken by Australia’s Qantas and Scandinavian Airlines (SAS), which are steering clear of Iranian airspace. EasyJet and Wizz Air have also canceled flights destined for Tel Aviv as a precautionary measure.
“Not since [9⁄11] have we encountered a situation with so many airspaces being shut down in such quick succession, inevitably causing chaos,” remarked Mark Zee, founder of Ops Group, an organization dedicated to monitoring airspace and airports worldwide.
The ongoing developments underscore the profound impact that geopolitical tensions can exert on global travel, even in regions geographically distant from the conflict zone itself.
Global Airlines Adjust Operations Due to Tensions in the Middle East
Recent tensions between Israel and Iran have led to significant disruptions for airlines operating in the region:
- Lufthansa: All regular flights to/from Tel Aviv, Erbil, and Amman are suspended through today. Flights to Beirut and Tehran remain grounded until at least Thursday.
- KLM: This airline has canceled all flights to and from Tel Aviv up to tomorrow.
- EasyJet: Operations to Tel Aviv have been paused without a specified timeline for resumption.
- WizzAir: Most of their flights to/from Tel Aviv were canceled between Saturday and today.
- Finnair: The airline has halted operations in Iranian airspace indefinitely, possibly causing longer flight times on some routes.
- SAS: Flights between Copenhagen and Bangkok have been affected, with one flight forced to reroute.
- Iberia Express (IAG-owned): Cancellations were made for flights to Tel Aviv yesterday and today.
- United Airlines: The planned flight from Newark to Tel Aviv was canceled on Sunday.
- Air Canada: Israel flights face long delays, with some cancellations also occurring.
- Qantas Airways: While no cancellations have been reported between Perth and London, the airline has temporarily rerouted flights through Singapore due to the situation in the Middle East.
- Southern Airlines: A flight from China to Iran was canceled yesterday.
- Hainan Airlines: The carrier is closely monitoring the situation for its Israel-bound flight.
- Air India: Flights to Tel Aviv have been temporarily ceased.
- El Al Airlines (Israel): 15 flights scheduled for Saturday and Sunday were canceled.
- Arkia (Israeli Carrier): After initially postponing flights, Arkia is adjusting its schedule with ongoing disruptions.
- Fly Dubai: Several Fly Dubai flights have been impacted by airspace closures, as per Emirati airway statements.
- Etihad Airways: Services to Tel Aviv and Amman were canceled on Sunday; however, the airline aims to operate scheduled passenger/cargo services between Abu Dhabi, Tel Aviv, and Beirut from Monday onward.
- Emirates Airlines: Scheduled operations resumed yesterday afternoon for Jordan, Lebanon, and Iraq destinations.
- Qatar Airways: Services have been resumed to Amman, Beirut, and Baghdad.
British Airways appears unaffected as they already avoided Iranian airspace with no flights to Tehran since 2018. The situation continues to evolve, and airlines are adjusting operations accordingly while keeping customers informed of any changes or disruptions to their bookings.
By-the-Hour Changes in Disruption: Travel Expert, NICKY KELVIN, Advises on Flight Cancellations
The fluid situation regarding Iran’s attack has led to significant flight disruptions that are evolving rapidly. While not all airlines and routes are impacted—with some like Qatar and Emirates still operating in Iranian airspace—many carriers have proactively cancelled flights to/from Israel and Iran as a short-term precaution, causing a ripple effect of delays across the region.
Advice for Travelers
For travelers currently in the affected region or those with upcoming plans to fly over it, staying informed is crucial: actively monitor updates from your airline and airport, especially if you’re scheduled to fly within the next couple of days. Given the dynamic nature of the situation, flexibility can be advantageous; consider delaying your trip to sidestep potential disruptions and their knock-on effects, which may linger for days or weeks.
Most airlines are accommodating travelers by offering free rebooking options or cancellations with flexibility. Contact your airline promptly if you have imminent travel plans, to understand the choices available to you—this includes potential rebooking on different carriers.
For a real-time view of flight paths and airport operations, FlightRadar24 is an excellent resource to visualize aircraft movements, open/closed airspaces, and carrier activity. Israel’s closure of its airspace on Saturday caused widespread disruption but has since reopened as of yesterday morning. Similarly, several countries in the Middle East, including Jordan, Lebanon, and Iraq, temporarily closed their skies overnight from Saturday to yesterday, now resuming operations.
Industry Response & Potential Impact:
Major airlines in the region, such as Emirates Airlines, Qatar Airways, and Etihad Airways, have announced plans to resume operations after temporary cancellations or reroutes. However, independent aviation analyst Brendan Sobie notes that it’s unclear if this unrest will dampen passenger demand, which has remained strong despite ongoing tensions in Ukraine and Gaza. He adds that continued escalation could spark travel concerns but emphasizes that we haven’t reached that point yet.
Iranian airports are also resuming operations after a temporary halt, with Tehran’s Imam Khomeini International Airport reporting a return to normal operations as of early morning local time. Domestic flights from Mehrabad airport in Tehran and other major Iranian cities are now operating per schedule, according to state media.
As the situation unfolds, Lord David Cameron has urged Israel to approach the conflict with Iran prudently, acknowledging their successful defense against Iran’s drone attack while cautioning against escalation. The incident has heightened fears of a broader regional conflict, especially given the ongoing Israel-Hamas war that has already resulted in substantial loss of life and devastation in Gaza.
G7 leaders have emphasized the need to prevent an ‘uncontrollable regional escalation,’ underscoring their readiness to take further measures to stabilize the situation. The world now awaits the response from Benjamin Netanyahu’s government, with a focus on restraint to prevent intensification of the conflict.