bne IntelliNews – Tensions in the Middle East affect regional air routes

Rising tensions between Israel, Iran and Hezbollah have led to flight cancellations and route changes across the Middle East, according to aviation authorities and flight tracking data.

The heightened alert follows the recent Israeli attack in Beirut that killed Hezbollah military commander Fuad Shukr and Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran on July 31. Tehran has vowed to avenge Haniyeh’s death, but eight days later there has been no direct confrontation between Tehran and Tel Aviv.

Following the killings, Britain issued a NOTAM (Notice to Airmen) warning pilots to avoid Beirut airspace from August 7 to November 4 due to the risk of escalation between Israel and Hezbollah.

Egypt has ordered its airlines to avoid Iranian airspace at certain times due to Iranian military exercises, Arabic-speaking Sky News reported.

Several airlines continue to operate in Israeli airspace, including Virgin Atlantic, Wizzair, Air France, Emirates and FlyDubai.

Flight routes provided by Flightradar24 show that Emirates and FlyDubai as well as Turkish Airways flights to the UAE continue to fly via Iran.

Pegasus, Emirates and Qatar Airways remain in operation at Tehran’s Imam Khomeini International Airport.

In Lebanon, although a Virgin Atlantic flight to London is scheduled, it will be operated by Lebanon’s Middle East Airlines. Flights by Air France, Czech Airlines, Air Canada, Turkish Airlines and Saudia will also be operated by Middle East Airlines, suggesting that both Western and Middle Eastern airlines largely avoid Lebanese airspace.

In some cases, flights crossing the region appear to be avoiding Iranian, Syrian and Lebanese airspace. Iraq, on the other hand, has seen an increase in flights in recent hours as a new flight corridor has opened over the country towards Turkey and south to the Persian Gulf.

Further south, Qatar Airways flight QTR003 to London crossed Saudi and Egyptian airspace before flying over the Mediterranean to Greece and then across Europe to London. Flightradar24 showed.

Some flights are not deterred by the rising tensions. Flightradar24 showed that Etihad Airways flight EY1 from Abu Dhabi to New York continued its usual route through Iran.

Hundreds of Israeli travelers were stranded at Prague airport for up to three days after an operator of Arkia Israeli Airlines suspended flights due to safety concerns in Israel, passengers and the airline said on August 2.

About 400 Israelis are waiting at the airport, some sleeping on the floor, while Arkia tries to find alternative arrangements for their return home.

The incident highlights the wider disruption to air travel as foreign airlines cancel or reduce flights to Israel amid heightened tensions in the region following reported Israeli attacks in Beirut and Tehran.