ISLAMABAD: There are several international airlines have been forced to alter their flight operations after Iran abruptly closed its airspace, raising fresh concerns over aviation safety in the Middle East.
In this regard, India’s largest airline, IndiGo that some of its international flights would be affected by the closure. The airline warned passengers of possible delays as aircraft are rerouted to avoid Iranian airspace.
Similarly, Air India confirmed that its flights are using alternative routes, which could lead to longer travel times or, in some cases, cancellations.
Furthermore, the disruption extended beyond South Asia. As per the flight tracking data from Flightradar24, a Russia-based Aeroflot flight en route to Tehran was forced to turn back and return to Moscow following the sudden shutdown of the airspace.
In this sense, European carriers have also responded swiftly. Germany issued a new directive advising its airlines to avoid Iranian airspace. The warning came shortly after Lufthansa announced changes to its Middle East operations due to rising security concerns.
The airline said it would bypass Iranian and Iraqi airspace until further notice. Lufthansa also stated that it would operate only daytime flights to Tel Aviv and Amman from Wednesday until Monday next week to ensure that flight crews do not have to remain overnight in the region.
The carrier warned that some flights may be canceled as a result of these precautionary measures. Italian airline ITA Airways, now partly owned by the Lufthansa Group, said it would also suspend night flights to Tel Aviv.
Moreover, airlines operating in the Gulf and surrounding regions have taken similar steps. Flydubai and Turkish Airlines have canceled multiple flights to Iran over the past week.
According to Safe Airspace, a platform operated by aviation risk organisation OPSGROUP, most carriers are now actively avoiding Iranian airspace.
“Several airlines have already reduced or suspended services, and most carriers are avoiding Iranian airspace,” Safe Airspace said in a statement. The organisation warned that the situation could point to increase security risks, including the possibility of missile activity or increased air defence operations, which raise the danger of civilian aircraft being misidentified.
Moreover, the concerns are not without precedent. In 2020, a Ukraine International Airlines passenger jet was shot down by Iran’s military shortly after takeoff from Tehran, killing all 176 people on board.
The United States already prohibits its commercial airlines from overflying Iran, and no direct flights operate between the two countries.
