Air traffic over Iran and Israel conflict zones notably decreases, as indicated by flight tracking data.
Article Title: missed flights and rerouted planes: airline activity amid soaring geopolitical tension between Iran and Israel
Byline:Lekshmy Pavithran
Dubai: Air travel has been significantly impacted by the mounting tensions between Iran and Israel. Here's a rundown of what's happening in the skies above today's hotspot region.
airlines on the move
Data from Flightradar24 shows a noticeable void in airspace above the conflict zone, indicating that numerous airlines have re-routed their flights to circumvent high-risk areas. Israel's continuous missile threats and military activity have made Middle Eastern airspace a risky prospect for carriers worldwide.
GPS jamming poses trouble
Flightradar24 has shared a cautionary note about heightened GPS jamming in conflict zones like this one. This interference with GPS signals can distort aircraft position data, leading to errors in ADS-B position tracking transmitted by planes operating in the area.
airspace shutdowns
Iran's Civil Aviation Organization has extended its airspace closure until 2:00 AM local time on Friday, as the confrontation with Israel enters its seventh day. Meanwhile, Israel has shuttered its airspace for all incoming and outgoing flights amid Iranian air raids. In light of the ongoing turmoil, authorities have recommended steering clear of Ben Gurion Airport for the time being.
travel chaos ensues
Since the conflict commenced on June 13, the Middle East air travel landscape has suffered a series of disruptions, leading airlines worldwide to either suspend flights or re-route them due to the ensuing security risks. Airports in Jordan, Iraq, Syria, the UAE, and Lebanon have all experienced delays and cancellations in a big way. Some major aviation players have opted to aim clear of Middle Eastern airspace altogether, citing missile threats and ongoing military activity.
UAE flight suspensions and delays
UAE-based airlines, including Air Arabia, Etihad Airways, Emirates, Flydubai, and others, have responded to the upheaval by temporarily halting or rescheduling flights to several destinations. UAE-based travellers are also grappling with the decision to postpone or cancel their summer holidays due to disruptions caused by the tensions. Travel agents throughout the Gulf are reporting a consistent upsurge in cancellations for trips to Europe, the US, and Eastern Europe, as the broad impact of the airspace closures over Iran, Iraq, Israel, and Jordan reverberates across key transit routes.
a different view from what the data suggests
Sources exterior to Flightradar24 have provided additional insights into the situation. For example, Israeli flag carrier El Al has cancelled all scheduled flights to and from Israel through 2025 due to security concerns, having moved some aircraft out of the country in anticipation of retaliation from Iran[1]. Other Israeli airlines like Israir and Arkia have also halted operations to and from Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport[1][3]. More than 30 global airlines have suspended their flights to key Middle Eastern destinations, including Tel Aviv, Beirut, Amman, and major hubs like Dubai and Doha. American Airlines, United, Air France-KLM, British Airways, Finnair, airBaltic, Aegean Airlines, Aeroflot, and others have all temporarily halted or cancelled flights to affected cities until various dates ranging from late June to July[2][3].
in the air and on the ground
The ripple effects of the Iran-Israel conflict cannot be ignored. Thousands of passengers across the globe have encountered delays and cancellations, with airports like Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion shuttered, and unprecedented airspace restrictions in place over Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, and parts of the Gulf. Passengers are advised to verify flight statuses and heed travel advisories from their respective governments to ensure maximum safety.
[1] Mashable[2] Reuters[3] CNN[4] The Telegraph
- The ongoing geopolitical tension between Iran and Israel has led to a significant impact on the news of travel, with numerous airlines re-routing their flights to avoid high-risk areas over the Middle East.
- Not only in the air, but the conflict also poses trouble on the ground for the general public, causing delays and cancellations in airports across the region, including Ben Gurion Airport in Israel and airports in Jordan, Iraq, Syria, the UAE, and Lebanon.
- Politics and war-and-conflicts between Iran and Israel have caused a ripple effect in the business sector, with major aviation players such as American Airlines, United, Air France-KlM, British Airways, Finnair, airBaltic, Aegean Airlines, Aeroflot, and others temporarily halting or canceling flights to affected cities.
- Lifestyle disruptions are prevalent as well, with UAE-based travelers grappling with decisions to postpone or cancel their summer holidays due to escalating tensions and ensuing security risks.
- Crime-and-justice cases might also rise as a result of the chaos created by the conflict, with increased passenger numbers at airports potentially leading to more incidents of theft, violence, and other criminal activities.
