Air traffic avoids airspace over most of the Middle East at 8:30 am U.S. Pacific time. Image: FlightRadar.
After Israel struck Iranian nuclear facilities, ballistic missile factories, and senior military command, the airspace over most of the Middle East has turned into a no-fly zone.
This could go on for a while. Israel warned that it could be a prolonged campaign to halt Tehran’s nuclear ambitions. Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv was shut down, and Israeli air defenses were placed on high alert for possible Iranian retaliation. In what was the first part of the retaliation, Iran sent a drone swarm towards Israel. Israel, with the Iron Dome, says it shot down 100 of the drones. Tehran (Iran’s capital) is in no way done and is “planning to give a harsh response.”
Iran has closed its airspace until further notice, and neighboring Iraq and Jordan have also suspended all air traffic. Major carriers such as El Al, Air France-KLM, Ryanair and Wizz Air halted flights to and from Israel, while Emirates and Qatar Airways cancelled services to Iran, Iraq, Jordan and Lebanon. Germany’s Lufthansa suspended flights to Tehran, and Air India diverted or returned multiple long-haul services, including routes from New York, Vancouver, Chicago and London.
Eurocontrol reported that about 1,800 flights between Europe and the Middle East were affected on Friday, with roughly 650 cancellations. FlightRadar data showed Iranian, Iraqi and Jordanian airspace virtually empty, as operators rerouted journeys via Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Turkey, Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan. Russia’s civil aviation authority instructed its carriers to avoid the airspace of Iran, Iraq, Israel and Jordan and barred flights to airports in those countries until June 26.
The air war sent airline share prices tumbling—British Airways owner IAG fell 4.6%, Delta Air Lines 4% and Ryanair 3.5%—and fuel-price spikes added further strain on routes and safety considerations.