In response to Israeli military strikes targeting Iranian nuclear and missile facilities, a wave of international airlines has suspended or cancelled flights across the Middle East, citing escalating security risks and widespread airspace closures.
Israel has closed its airspace indefinitely, grounding all flights at Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv. Israeli carriers El Al and Israir have halted operations and evacuated aircraft from the region. Meanwhile, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, and Syria have also closed their airspaces, forcing airlines to reroute or cancel flights.
Major carriers affected include Air France, KLM, Lufthansa, Ryanair, and Aegean Airlines, which have suspended flights to Tel Aviv through mid to late summer. Russian Aeroflot cancelled its Moscow-Tehran route and adjusted other Middle East flights. Middle Eastern airlines such as Emirates, Etihad, flydubai, and Turkish Airlines have also halted services to Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, and Israel, with some limiting flights to daylight hours only.
Delta Airlines removed all New York-Tel Aviv flights through August 31, while Qatar Airways suspended flights to Iraq, Iran, and Syria until mid-June. Air India reported diversions and returns of multiple flights due to restricted airspace.
These disruptions reflect the heightened tensions following Israel’s preemptive strikes, which have prompted regional airspace closures and raised safety concerns for international travel. Passengers are urged to check directly with airlines for the latest updates as the situation remains fluid.
