US and Israel Strikes on Iran Prompt Airline Flight Cancellations
Airline operations in the Middle East have been severely disrupted following military actions by the United States and Israel against Iran. This escalation has prompted multiple airlines to cancel flights, affecting travel plans across the region.
Flight Cancellations Overview
On February 28, global airlines announced the cancellation of numerous flights due to airspace restrictions. The situation has left airspace over Iran and Iraq nearly empty, as reflected in tracking data from Flightradar24.
Airlines Affected
- Air France KLM: Canceled flights to and from Tel Aviv and Beirut for Saturday. The Amsterdam–Tel Aviv service has been suspended earlier than planned.
- IndiGo: Stated it is monitoring regional updates but has not yet specified cancellations.
- Japan Airlines: Canceled a flight from Tokyo Haneda to Doha and its return flight scheduled for March 1.
- Lufthansa: Suspended flights to Tel Aviv, Beirut, and Oman until March 7. No flights will enter Israeli, Lebanese, Jordanian, Iraqi, and Iranian airspace during this period.
- Virgin Atlantic: Temporarily avoiding Iraqi airspace, leading to rerouting and cancellation of the VS400 flight from London Heathrow to Dubai.
- Wizz Air: Halted operations to and from Israel, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Amman until March 7.
Future Operational Decisions
Many airlines have indicated that operations will be continuously reviewed based on evolving conditions in the region. Travelers should stay informed about potential changes to flight schedules and routes.
The sudden military strikes and resulting flight cancellations underscore the heightened tensions in the Middle East, affecting international travel and safety.
