Jetsetters Beware of Middle East Airspace Closures

Heads up, jetsetters…there’s major turbulence in the skies over the Middle East. Airlines are grounding flights to Tel Aviv and rerouting around closed airspace after Israel launched strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. With Iran, Israel, Iraq, and Jordan all closing their skies, air traffic is in disarray across some of the world’s busiest international corridors.

Since Friday, over 1,800 European-bound flights have been thrown off schedule, with nearly 650 canceled altogether. Major carriers like Emirates, Qatar Airways, British Airways, Lufthansa, and Air India are scrambling to adjust. Delta and United have paused their Tel Aviv service through the weekend, and Delta’s flagged the route for disruptions through the end of the month. Even Israel’s national airline, El Al, has grounded all flights as Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport remains shut.

Some travelers are finding themselves on unexpected layovers in cities like Vienna and Frankfurt to name a few. Routes between Europe and the Gulf, as well as Asia to North America, are seeing the biggest detours, with some flights adding hours via Central Asia or the Meds. Airlines are adapting daily, so if you’re booked to fly anywhere near the region, keep a close eye on your airline’s app or socials for updates.

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