Airlines temporarily suspend operations amid escalating Israel-Iran conflict
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As hostilities between Israel and Iran escalate, a growing number of regional and international airlines have suspended operations to several Middle Eastern destinations, citing security concerns and airspace restrictions.
In response to deteriorating security conditions, Flydubai said its flights to Israel, Iran, and Iraq will remain suspended until June 20. Services to Russia's St. Petersburg and Minsk are also halted until June 17, while flights to Lebanon, Jordan, and Syria are suspended until June 16.
Qatar Airways has similarly suspended operations to Iran, Iraq, and Syria until further notice. Flights to Iran's Tehran, Mashhad, and Shiraz have been halted, as well as to Iraq's Baghdad, Basra, Erbil, Sulaymaniyah, and Najaf, and Syria's Damascus.
Lufthansa, Germany's flagship carrier, has suspended flights to Israel, Iran, Iraq, Oman, and Lebanon. Routes to Tel Aviv and Tehran remain suspended until July 31, with services to Amman, Baghdad, and Beirut paused until June 20.
Also Read: 450 Pakistani pilgrims evacuated from Iran, confirms Dar
UAE airlines have extended suspension of flights to several destinations in the region as tensions between Israel and Iran escalate.
Etihad Airways, based in Abu Dhabi, has suspended flights to Tel Aviv, and Air Arabia has halted operations to the city until June 22.
In Turkey, Pegasus Airlines announced a temporary halt to flights to Iran until June 19, and to Iraq until June 16. The airline also warned of possible disruptions to flights to Lebanon and Jordan, advising passengers to verify flight status before travelling to airports.
Airline authorities have urged travellers to stay informed through official channels, as schedules remain subject to rapid change based on developments in the region.
Read More: Iranian strikes kill at least 13, injure 250 in central and northern Israel
Earlier, Israel's national carrier, El Al Airlines, announced that it has extended the suspension of all flights until at least June 19, with further cancellations affecting several European cities until June 23. The airline had earlier halted services until June 17 after Israeli airspace was closed in response to Iran's missile strikes over the weekend.
"Once approvals are received from the relevant security and aviation authorities, we will do everything possible to allow as many Israelis as possible to return home, gradually resume our regular flight schedule and operate rescue flights from destinations near Israel," El Al said in a statement.
Israel's National Security Council (NSC) has also issued a heightened Level 4 travel advisory for travel through Egypt's Sinai region and Jordan, despite both borders remaining open, urging citizens to avoid non-essential travel.
The surge in cancellations marks the most significant disruption in regional aviation since the October 2023 Israel-Gaza conflict, when most foreign airlines ceased operations into Tel Aviv. Many had only recently resumed flights before the latest escalation with Iran.
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