Airlines divert flights as Israel – Iran conflict shuts airspace across region

Airlines around the world scrambled to reroute or cancel flights on Friday after Israel launched strikes on Iranian targets, prompting the closure of airspace over Israel, Iran, Iraq, and Jordan. The move triggered widespread disruption across international aviation networks, as major carriers sought to protect passengers and crews amid escalating regional tensions.

According to real-time data from Flightradar24, air traffic was quickly cleared from the affected airspaces following Israel’s attacks on what it described as Iranian nuclear facilities, ballistic missile factories, and senior military leadership. Israeli authorities have warned that the military operation may continue in the coming days.

In response, Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport was shut down until further notice, and Israel’s air defence systems were placed on high alert amid fears of Iranian retaliation.

Israel’s national carrier El Al announced it was suspending all flights to and from Israel and relocating aircraft outside the country. Israir, another Israeli airline, said it was evacuating its planes from Tel Aviv’s airport, which is expected to remain closed through the weekend.

The aviation disruptions come just weeks after a missile launched by Yemen’s Houthi rebels landed near Ben Gurion Airport, prompting several global airlines to preemptively suspend services to Tel Aviv.

Meanwhile, Iranian authorities issued a notice closing their airspace indefinitely. Despite early reports of Israeli strikes, several commercial aircraft operated by Emirates, Lufthansa, and Air India were still in Iranian airspace at the time.

Air India, which regularly flies over Iran en route to Europe and North America, confirmed that multiple flights — including services from New York, Vancouver, Chicago, and London – were diverted or returned to their departure points.

Lufthansa also suspended all flights to Tehran and announced it would avoid flying over Iranian, Iraqi, and Israeli airspace until further notice. Emirates canceled flights to and from Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, and Iran, though the carrier has not yet issued an official statement.

Aviation risk consultancy Osprey Flight Solutions notes that proliferating global conflict zones are increasingly affecting airline safety and operations. Since 2001, six commercial aircraft have been unintentionally shot down, and three have narrowly avoided similar fates.

As the situation evolves, airlines continue to monitor developments, with further flight disruptions likely across the region.

The article Airlines divert flights as Israel – Iran conflict shuts airspace across region first appeared in TravelDailyNews International.