WHAT’S THE LATEST
As of June 23, the Middle East is experiencing significant flight disruptions due to escalating geopolitical tensions, particularly involving Iran, Israel, and the United States. These tensions have led to temporary airspace closures and widespread cancellations by major airlines.
The Middle East is a critical corridor for Europe-Asia flights, especially since Russian and Ukrainian airspace closures. Current rerouting adds costs and delays, impacting global aviation.
WHAT WE KNOW
Airspace Closures:
Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Syria and Qatar have temporarily closed their airspace in response to military actions, such as Iran’s missile strike on a U.S. military base in Qatar and ongoing Israel-Iran conflicts.
Bahrain and Kuwait have reopened their airspace, and Dubai Airports have resumed operations after a brief suspension, though delays and cancellations persist.
Flight Diversions & Cancellations:
On 6/23, over 100 flights to Doha and several to Dubai were diverted due to sudden airspace closures. Airlines are rerouting via Georgia, Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia or the Arabian Sea, leading to longer flight times and higher fuel costs.
Airline Impacts & Estimated Suspension Timelines:
Note: Flight operations remain highly fluid. Airlines are updating schedules daily based on geopolitical developments and real-time airspace availability.
|
Airline |
Operational Status |
Affected Routes |
Estimated Duration |
|
Aeroflot |
Flights cancelled |
Moscow–Tehran |
Indefinite |
|
Air Arabia |
Flights halted |
Iran, Iraq, Jordan, and other Middle East destinations |
Through June 30 |
|
Air Canada |
Flights suspended |
Dubai |
Through July 3 |
|
Air France-KLM |
Flights cancelled |
Dubai, Doha, Riyadh, and other Middle East destinations |
Indefinite |
|
Air India |
All operations to Middle East suspended; other routes impacted by airspace restrictions |
All Middle East flights; flights to eastern North America and Europe |
Indefinite |
|
American Airlines |
Flights suspended |
Doha and Dubai |
Indefinite |
|
British Airways |
Flights cancelled |
Dubai, Doha, Riyadh, and other Middle East destinations |
Indefinite |
|
El Al |
Commercial flights suspended; rescue flights operating |
Israel (Ben Gurion Airport briefly closed); 24 daily rescue flights limited to 50 passengers each |
Rescue flights ongoing; no commercial schedule shared |
|
Etihad Airways |
Flights to Tel Aviv cancelled; other routes impacted |
Tel Aviv (cancelled); other unspecified services affected due to regional instability |
Tel Aviv: Through July 15
Other routes: Duration not specified |
|
Finnair |
Flights cancelled |
Dubai, Doha, Riyadh, and other Middle East destinations |
Indefinite |
|
Lufthansa |
Flights suspended; airspace avoided |
Tehran; actively avoiding Iranian, Iraqi, and Israeli airspace |
Indefinite |
|
Qatar Airways |
Flights cancelled |
Dubai, Doha, Riyadh, and other Middle East destinations |
Indefinite |
|
Singapore Airlines |
Flights cancelled |
Dubai, Doha, Riyadh, and other Middle East destinations |
Through at least June 23 |
|
United Airlines |
Flights suspended |
Doha and Dubai |
Dubai: Through July 3
Doha: Indefinite |
|
Wizz Air |
Flights suspended |
Tel Aviv, Amman and select routes from Abu Dhabi also halted |
Tel Aviv and Amman: Through September 15
Abu Dhabi routes: Indefinite |
WHAT'S NEXT?
Our team is actively monitoring developments day by day, ensuring we have the latest information to guide our clients. As additional suspensions and reroutings are announced, we will provide timely updates.
If you have questions, please reach out to your SEKO representative, or email us at hello@sekologistics.com.
