US airlines at risk as global carriers bypass Middle East
US strikes on Iran's nuclear sites could heighten the threat to American operators in the region, an organisation that monitors flight risks warned on Sunday, as some airlines cancelled flights to and from Dubai and Doha.
Airlines continued to avoid large parts of the Middle East due to missile exchanges between Israel and Iran, the latest upheaval to travel in the region.
Singapore Airlines said it cancelled flights from Singapore to Dubai following a security assessment and British Airways cancelled flights to and from Dubai and Doha.
Safe Airspace, a website run by OPSGROUP, said the US attacks on Iran may increase risks to US operators in the region.
"While there have been no specific threats made against civil aviation, Iran has previously warned it would retaliate by attacking US military interests in the Middle East – either directly or via proxies such as Hezbollah," Safe Airspace said.
Meanwhile, flight tracking website FlightRadar24, said airlines maintained flight diversions around the region. Its website showed airlines were not flying over Iran, Iraq, Syria and Israel.
They have chosen routings such as north via the Caspian Sea or south via Egypt and Saudi Arabia, even if these mean higher fuel and crew costs and longer flight times.
Missile and drone barrages in a growing number of conflict zones represent a high risk to airline traffic.
In the nine days since Israel attacked Iran, carriers have suspended flights to destinations in the affected countries.
With Russian and Ukrainian airspace also closed due to war, the Middle East has become a more important route for flights between Europe and Asia.
Airlines are also concerned about a potential spike in oil prices following the US attacks, which will increase the cost of jet fuel.
In the days before the US strikes, American Airlines suspended flights to Qatar and United Airlines did the same with flights to Dubai.
Safe Airspace said airspace risks could now extend to Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
"We continue to advise a high degree of caution at this time," it said.
The BA and Singapore Airlines cancellations were only for Sunday, but Singapore said other flights between Singapore and Dubai may be affected as the situation remains "fluid".
BA, owned by IAG, said customers scheduled to travel between now and June 24 to Dubai and Doha can rebook up to and including July 6, free of charge.
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