International carriers are once again worried about an increased threat of violence in the Middle East and are adjusting routes to avoid Iran and are temporarily stopping flights into Tel Aviv.
After Israel’s strike in Iran killing a Hamas leader, airlines are growing concerned of the outbreak of additional violence in the region.
Reuters reports carriers are starting to rethink their routes around Iran, Lebanon, and travel to Israel in an abundance of safety.
Tel Aviv Routes Get Cut as Airlines Re-Route to Avoid Middle East Countries
In the wake of the death of leaders from Hezbollah and Hamas credited to Israel’s military forces, airlines are now deciding to avoid the area to ensure their flights remain safe. In a statement to Reuters, Singapore Airlines confirmed they were re-routing their operations around the nations, telling the agency that “safety is the top priority.”
The move comes after OPSGROUP told their members to avoid the airspace over Iraq and Lebanon, as Iran plans to meet with both countries to determine what happens next. Aviation authorities from Canada and the United Kingdom have both advised air carriers to avoid Lebanon due to increased military activity.
Additionally, airlines are starting to cancel flights to both Tel Aviv in Israel and Beirut in Lebanon. Five airlines are temporarily cutting their travel to Tel Aviv, including Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, and Lufthansa Group’s carriers. This marks the second time Delta and United reduced service into Israel, after both cut flights in October 2023.
Not all airlines are avoiding the airspace as worries of a larger conflict rise. The Middle East Three – Emirates, Etihad, and Qatar Airways – are all continuing their flights as normal, along with FlyDubai and Turkish Airlines.
Feature image courtesy: Wikimedia Commons via Creative Commons (CC-SA-4.0 International)
