Latest news with #flightroutes
The Independent
18 hours ago
- Politics
- The Independent
Airlines avoiding Middle East airspace after US bombs Iran
Airlines are continuing to reroute flights away from significant swathes of Middle Eastern airspace, following recent US strikes on Iranian nuclear sites and ongoing missile exchanges in the region. The persistent avoidance of these key flight corridors was evident on Sunday, according to data from the flight tracking website FlightRadar24. FlightRadar24 confirmed the situation on social media platform X, stating: "Following US attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities, commercial traffic in the region is operating as it has since new airspace restrictions were put into place last week." The website's live tracking data showed a clear absence of commercial flights over Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Israel. Instead, carriers are opting for alternative routings, either north via the Caspian Sea or south through Egypt and Saudi Arabia. These detours, while ensuring safety, come at a cost, resulting in higher fuel and crew expenses, alongside extended flight times for passengers and cargo. At about 8 p.m. ET, Trump put out a message on his Truth Social website saying that 'very successful' strikes had been carried out on the nuclear facilities in Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan. 'Iran's key nuclear enrichment facilities have been completely and totally obliterated,' Trump said in a brief address on Saturday evening. Missile and drone barrages in an expanding number of conflict zones globally represent a high risk to airline traffic. Since Israel launched strikes on Iran on June 13, carriers have suspended flights to destinations in the affected countries, though there have been some evacuation flights from neighbouring nations and some bringing stranded Israelis home. Japan 's foreign ministry said on Sunday it had evacuated 21 people, including 16 Japanese nationals, from Iran overland to Azerbaijan. It said it was the second such evacuation since Thursday and that it would conduct further evacuations if necessary. New Zealand's government said on Sunday it would send a Hercules military transport plane to the Middle East on standby to evacuate New Zealanders from the region. It said in a statement that government personnel and a C-130J Hercules aircraft would leave Auckland on Monday. The plane would take some days to reach the region, it said. The government was also in talks with commercial airlines to assess how they may be able to assist, it added.
The Independent
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Independent
Stunning map shows the lengths pilots go through to avoid conflict zones
A stunning map of current global flight routes has shown the lengths pilots have to go through to avoid conflict zones. As the Russia-Ukraine war rages on and the Israel-Iran conflict intensifies, the world has become more chaotic, and so has its airspace. A live flight tracking map from Flightradar24 showed planes bustling in western Europe and most of Asia. But there are startling holes in the map, which happen to be where the world's major conflicts are currently taking place. Ukraine had no planes in its airspace, and there were very few planes flying over Russia late Friday afternoon, according to Flightradar24's map. Some Middle Eastern countries, including Israel, Iran and the surrounding nations of Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and Kuwait, also had no flights coming in or out based on the map. The lack of air travel can be linked to the air strikes Russia and Ukraine as well as Israel and Iran have been launching against each other in respective conflicts. It's been more than three years since Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The missile and drone strikes and their counterattacks have been non-stop. Earlier this week, Russia launched an overnight attack on Kyiv, killing 28 people and injuring over 100 more, The Associated Press reported, citing local officials. Israel had already been at war with Hamas when it struck Iran's nuclear facilities and hit military targets in the region last Friday. The attacks killed several of Tehran's top military leaders and leading nuclear scientists, and Iran subsequently launched heavy retaliatory strikes against Israel. Besides man-made conflict, natural disasters can also make the jobs of pilots more difficult. 'Airspace closures have become quite common,' Singapore -based aviation consultant Brendan Sobie told CNN. 'It's almost like the new normal for airlines to have to navigate this kind of thing.'
The Independent
02-06-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Airspace redesign promises quicker, quieter flights
The Government has announced the largest redesign of UK airspace in seven decades. The redesign aims to create more direct flight routes, aiming to reduce fuel consumption, carbon emissions, and flight times. Airlines like easyJet have criticised the UK's inefficient airspace, which they say contributes to increased fuel use and emissions. The Department for Transport (DfT) claims the redesigned 'skyways' will reduce noise and air pollution for residents along flight routes, while decreasing flight disruptions and shortening journey times for travellers. The UK Airspace Design Service, established by the DfT and the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), will focus initially on redesigning London's airspace and could also design routes for drones and flying taxis. How a massive overhaul of UK airspace promises to cut flight times and delays
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Yahoo
These are the worst airports and flight routes for turbulence in North America
They say knowledge is power — and with this in mind, we are revealing the airports and flight routes in North America that are the worst for turbulence. Armed with this knowledge, nervous flyers will at least know to expect a few bumps in these spots. The lists come from website which monitors and predicts turbulence using the same sources pilots and airlines use to plan their flights – the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the MetOffice. The most turbulent airport for approaches and descents — take-offs and landings are affected by crosswinds, not turbulence — is Denver, Colorado, followed by Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport. They both have average annual EDR scores ("eddy dissipation rates") of 17, a unit that describes how fast turbulence disappears. The website describes EDR values of 0 to 20 as "light — smooth flight conditions"; 20 to 40 as "moderate", leading to "difficulty with walking and food services"; 40 to 60 as "strong", with passengers straining against seat belts; 60 to 80 as "severe", with "violent and sudden changes in altitude; and 80 to 100 as "extreme", meaning the "aircraft is practically impossible to control". Salt Lake City, Jackson Hole Airport and Las Vegas also make the top 10, with Albuquerque to Denver ranked as the route with the highest average turbulence. Las Vegas to Reno and Las Vegas to Salt Lake City also make the top 10 most turbulent route table. Turbulence is caused by warm air rising through cooler air; mountains or manmade structures disrupting air flow, and pockets of air moving in different directions. It's completely normal and modern aircraft are designed to withstand more turbulence than you'll ever experience on a flight. According to data from America's Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), there have been only 184 serious turbulence injuries between 2009 and 2023, with 37 of those people passengers, the rest crew members. Denver (17.29 EDR — eddy dissipation rate) Bozeman (17) Albuquerque (16.44) Salt Lake City(16.43) Jackson Hole Airport (16.14) Las Vegas (15.74) Vancouver (15.68) Reno (15.67) Seattle (15.49) Boise (15.40) Albuquerque — Denver (17.75 EDR) Denver — Jackson (17.45) Jackson — Salt Lake City (17.41) Denver — Salt Lake City (16.94) Bozeman — Denver (16.68) Ontario — San Diego (16.43) Boise — Salt Lake City (16.30) Bozeman — Salt Lake City (16.25) Las Vegas — Reno (16.06) Las Vegas — Salt Lake City (15.87)
The Independent
19-05-2025
- The Independent
These are the worst airports and flight routes for turbulence in North America
They say knowledge is power — and with this in mind, we are revealing the airports and flight routes in North America that are the worst for turbulence. Armed with this knowledge, nervous flyers will at least know to expect a few bumps in these spots. The lists come from website which monitors and predicts turbulence using the same sources pilots and airlines use to plan their flights – the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the MetOffice. The most turbulent airport for approaches and descents — take-offs and landings are affected by crosswinds, not turbulence — is Denver, Colorado, followed by Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport. They both have average annual EDR scores ("eddy dissipation rates") of 17, a unit that describes how fast turbulence disappears. The website describes EDR values of 0 to 20 as "light — smooth flight conditions"; 20 to 40 as "moderate", leading to "difficulty with walking and food services"; 40 to 60 as "strong", with passengers straining against seat belts; 60 to 80 as "severe", with "violent and sudden changes in altitude; and 80 to 100 as "extreme", meaning the "aircraft is practically impossible to control". Salt Lake City, Jackson Hole Airport and Las Vegas also make the top 10, with Albuquerque to Denver ranked as the route with the highest average turbulence. Las Vegas to Reno and Las Vegas to Salt Lake City also make the top 10 most turbulent route table. Turbulence is caused by warm air rising through cooler air; mountains or manmade structures disrupting air flow, and pockets of air moving in different directions. It's completely normal and modern aircraft are designed to withstand more turbulence than you'll ever experience on a flight. According to data from America's Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), there have been only 184 serious turbulence injuries between 2009 and 2023, with 37 of those people passengers, the rest crew members. North America's 10 most turbulent airports Denver (17.29 EDR — eddy dissipation rate) Bozeman (17) Albuquerque (16.44) Salt Lake City (16.43) Jackson Hole Airport (16.14) Las Vegas (15.74) Vancouver (15.68) Reno (15.67) Seattle (15.49) Boise (15.40) North America's most turbulent routes Albuquerque — Denver (17.75 EDR) Denver — Jackson (17.45) Jackson — Salt Lake City (17.41) Denver — Salt Lake City (16.94) Bozeman — Denver (16.68) Ontario — San Diego (16.43) Boise — Salt Lake City (16.30) Bozeman — Salt Lake City (16.25) Las Vegas — Reno (16.06) Las Vegas — Salt Lake City (15.87)
