According to Flightradar24, EDT’s Middle Eastern airspace on Monday afternoon.
Courtesy: flightradar24
The airline deflected more flights in the Middle East on Monday after Iranian troops said they had launched missile strikes at US military bases in Qatar.
More than 20 commercial aircraft bound by Qatar’s Doha detoured, with four turning to Dubai, UAE, turning around, according to aviation data company Cirium. Meanwhile, flight tracking platform Flightradar24 said airspace over the UAE was temporarily closed. Reuters reported that Bahrain’s island nation also temporarily closed its airspace.
Dubai-based Emirates said some of its aircraft would re-rout on Monday, and would operate the schedule as planned, but some delays or longer flights could be made, as it manipulates schedules that it was “sufficiently distanced from the conflict area.”
Air India said it has suspended all flights in North America and Europe, as well as in Europe “until further notice.”
“The India-surrounded flights from North America have returned to their respective origins, with other flights being detoured back to India or rerouted from closed airspace,” Air India said in a post on X.
The carrier previously announced several schedule cuts to enhance safety checks after the fatal crash of the Boeing 787 shortly after taking off from Ahmedabad, western India earlier this month. The cause of the crash is still under investigation.
British Airways said Monday it was cancelling Doha Flights until Wednesday “following the latest developments.”
“Safety has always been our number one priority,” it said. “We will contact our customers, advise them of their options and maintain the situation during review.”
United Arad Emirates flight pattern.
Courtesy: flightradar24
Previously, major international airlines, including Air France, Iberia and Finnare, have announced that they will suspend or postpone the resumption of services to several destinations in the Middle East.
American Airlines Flights to Doha had been suspended previously. United Airlines Service to Dubai has been suspended.
The US airline also had halted Israeli services after the country’s strike in Iran earlier this month.
The conflict in the Middle East has increased complications for airlines with limited airspace since the start of the Ukrainian War in 2022 and the Russian airspace was closed for many airlines.
Due to security concerns, airlines have regularly cleaned parts of the Middle East, but closed airspace means longer, more expensive routes.
