In response to Iran’s launch of a salvo of ballistic missiles at Israel on Tuesday, neighbouring countries swiftly closed their airspace, prompting airlines to scramble for diversions and adjustments to their flight paths to navigate the escalating conflict.
A spokesperson for tracking service FlightRadar24 reported that flights sought diversions “anywhere they could”, with a flurry of activity witnessed on its snapshot of regional air traffic. Flights were observed spreading in wide arcs to the north and south, with many making their way towards Cairo and Istanbul.
The increased congestion in Istanbul and Antalya in southern Turkey led to some airlines being compelled to divert their routes in a southern direction. Notably, around 80 flights, operated by prominent carriers including Emirates, British Airways, Lufthansa, and Qatar Airways, and bound for major Middle East hubs such as Dubai, Doha, and Abu Dhabi, were redirected to destinations like Cairo and various European cities, as per data from FlightRadar24.
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In response to the escalating conflict, several airlines have suspended flights to the region or are actively avoiding affected airspace, underscoring the far-reaching impact of the turmoil.
The missile strikes, launched by Iran in retaliation for Israel’s campaign against Tehran’s Hezbollah allies in Lebanon, elicited a vow from Israel of a “painful response” against its adversary.
Earlier alerts from Eurocontrol, a pan-European air traffic control agency, had cautioned pilots about the escalating conflict, issuing an urgent navigation bulletin that declared, “A major missile attack has been launched against Israel in the last few minutes” and warned of a missile warning across the entire country.
Subsequently, the closure of Jordanian and Iraqi airspace, along with the closure of a crucial crossing point into airspace controlled by Cyprus, was announced. An Iraqi pilot bulletin indicated the closure of Baghdad-controlled airspace due to security concerns before the Iraqi transport ministry later announced the reopening of airspace to civilian flights using its airports.
Meanwhile, Jordan also re-opened its airspace following a temporary closure, as confirmed by the Jordanian state news agency. Lebanon’s airspace also experienced closures with Transport Minister Ali Hamie announcing a two-hour airspace closure period on Tuesday.
The unfolding disruptions are anticipated to deliver an additional blow to the aviation industry, which is already grappling with limitations due to ongoing conflicts involving Israel and Hamas, as well as Russia and Ukraine.
(With agency inputs)