Recent military strikes initiated by the United States and Israel against Iran have led to significant disturbances in air travel between Western Europe and the Middle East. Following these operations, numerous airlines have suspended their flights to and from key destinations in the region.
Impact of US and Israel Strikes on Flights
The strikes, confirmed by Donald Trump on Saturday morning, included missile launches from Israeli territory towards Iran. In response, Iranian forces have also conducted retaliatory strikes. As tensions escalate, the airspaces over Iran and Iraq have been closed, resulting in numerous flight disruptions.
Flight Operations Halted
Major airlines have responded to the situation by ceasing operations to various cities. Notable actions include:
- Wizz Air suspended all flights to Israel, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Amman until March 7.
- Airlines such as Delta, United, Air France, KLM, Aegean, and FlyDubai have also grounded flights to Tel Aviv.
- A British Airways flight from London Heathrow to Doha was forced to turn back shortly after takeoff due to the closure of airspace.
Changing Flight Patterns
According to flight data service Flightradar24, an overnight stream of aircraft previously traveling from the Gulf region was redirected. By 6 am GMT, aircraft were no longer crossing into Iran and were instead rerouted west over Saudi Arabia.
Traveler Guidance
Wizz Air has indicated that it is in constant contact with aviation authorities and is monitoring the situation closely. Passengers affected by these flight cancellations are expected to receive direct communications regarding their options. Other airlines are similarly committed to keeping their customers informed, as the situation continues to unfold.
The current closure of airspace over Iran and Iraq has caused flight path extensions and air traffic congestion. This is likely to result in ongoing disruptions until normal operations can resume.
This breaking news story will be updated as more information becomes available.
