Airlines across the globe are urgently reassessing their flight schedules to and from the Middle East after the United States launched strikes on Iran, significantly raising concerns over aviation safety in the region.
Singapore Airlines, one of Asia’s most prominent carriers, described the situation as “fluid” and cancelled its flights from Singapore to Dubai on Sunday, following a security review.
The Middle East air corridor has gained importance in recent years, particularly for flights between Europe and Asia, due to the closure of Russian and Ukrainian airspace amid ongoing conflict. However, flight-tracking platform FlightRadar24 has shown large swathes of airspace — including over Iran, Iraq, Syria and Israel — virtually empty in recent days as airlines divert away from potential danger zones.
Airlines Take Precautionary Measures
European carriers have also taken swift action. Air France-KLM cancelled its services to and from Dubai and Riyadh on Sunday and Monday. British Airways, part of the IAG group, cancelled flights to Dubai and Doha for Sunday and stated it was “reviewing the situation” regarding subsequent departures.
The aviation risk monitoring platform Safe Airspace, operated by OPSGROUP, warned on Sunday that the US strikes on Iranian nuclear sites could elevate the threat to American and allied commercial operators in the region.
It flagged missile and drone activity in multiple conflict zones as a growing danger for airline traffic.
Israel Ramps Up Rescue Efforts
Amid the escalating regional crisis, Israel has moved to assist travellers stranded by the disruption.
The Airports Authority confirmed that so-called rescue flights to and from the country would increase from Monday, with up to 24 flights per day planned. However, each will be limited to 50 passengers for security and logistical reasons.
National carrier El Al reported a surge in demand, receiving applications from around 25,000 people wishing to leave Israel within a single day on Sunday.
As the situation remains volatile, aviation authorities and airlines continue to monitor developments closely.
The latest disruption follows a series of geopolitical crises that have dramatically reshaped global air travel routes in recent years, raising renewed questions about flight safety in high-risk regions.
emirates statement: “Due to the regional situation, Emirates has temporarily suspended all flights to:
- Iran (Tehran) and Iraq (Baghdad and Basra), until and including Monday 30 June 2025.
“We are operating as scheduled to all other destinations. Please check flight status before proceeding to the airport.
“Customers connecting through Dubai with final destinations in Iraq and Iran will not be accepted for travel at their point of origin until further notice.
“Customers impacted by flight cancellations must contact their travel agency for rebooking. If booked directly with Emirates, please contact us.
“Customers are requested to ensure their contact details are correct by visiting Manage Your Booking to receive updates
“We apologise for any inconvenience caused to our customers. We continue to closely monitor developments. The safety of our passengers, employees and operations will always be our top priority.”
