• durgesh dubey
• 08 Aug, 2024

Iran

Britain and Egypt have issued advisories for their airlines to avoid Iranian and Lebanese airspace due to escalating concerns of a broader regional conflict following the deaths of senior Hamas and Hezbollah members. On Wednesday, Britain advised its airlines to steer clear of Lebanon’s airspace, shortly after Egypt directed its airlines to avoid Iran's airspace for three hours early Thursday morning.

This move is part of a broader trend, with many airlines globally adjusting their routes to bypass Iranian and Lebanese airspace and canceling flights to Israel and Lebanon. The safety of flights through conflict zones became a significant issue in the aviation industry after the downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 over Ukraine in 2014, which resulted in 298 fatalities.

United Airlines confirmed on Wednesday that its flights to Tel Aviv, suspended since July 31 due to security concerns, remain on hold. The airline emphasized its commitment to monitoring the situation and prioritizing the safety of its customers and crews before resuming service.

Egyptian airlines have already been avoiding Iranian airspace, with the new directive extending to all Egyptian carriers, including charter operators and smaller airlines. Mark Zee, founder of OPSGROUP, a flight-risk information-sharing organization, noted that this advisory was in response to military exercises by Iranian authorities.

The Notice to Air Missions (NOTAM) issued on Wednesday specified that Egyptian airlines should avoid overflying Tehran's Flight Information Region (FIR) from 0100 to 0400 GMT on Thursday, without providing further details. An Egyptian official mentioned that this measure was based on a report from Iranian authorities advising all civil aviation companies to avoid the airspace due to military exercises.

In light of the rising tensions and the potential for a broader conflict, many airlines are adjusting their schedules to avoid flying over Iran and Lebanon, and suspending flights to Israel and Lebanon.