Wednesday, July 9, 2025

June 24, 2025

Airlines Bail On Middle East Routes As Tensions Explode

With missiles flying and nerves fraying, global carriers are rerouting, cancelling, and dodging danger zones from Tehran to Tel Aviv.

[Image: Vecteezy]

Global airlines are pulling back from the Middle East faster than a nervous cat at a fireworks display. With Israel and Iran swapping missiles and the US jumping into the fray with strikes on Iranian nuclear sites over the weekend, the skies are no longer friendly.

Here’s how the great aviation retreat is playing out:

European Airlines 

British Airways hit the brakes on flights between Heathrow and both Dubai and Doha on Sunday, right after the US strikes. By Monday, though, they were back to their stiff-upper-lip routine, saying flights were “scheduled to operate as normal.” Define “normal,” BA.

Air France went into full turtle mode, grounding flights to Saudi Arabia and the UAE until at least Tuesday. Its Paris-Tel Aviv route was also off the table until July 14. Transavia, its budget sibling, isn’t flying to Beirut until June 30 and won’t touch Tel Aviv until September 7. That’s practically next season.

Lufthansa Group (which includes Swiss, Austrian, and ITA) has gone ghost on the entire Middle East until June 30. Flights to Amman and Erbil are off until July 11, and don’t even think about booking a seat to Tel Aviv or Tehran before July 31. They’re also steering clear of any airspace with even a hint of hostility.

Aegean Airlines is skipping Tel Aviv until July 12 and avoiding Amman, Beirut, and Erbil through June 28. Apparently, Greece is sticking to beach destinations only this summer.

Pegasus, the Turkish budget carrier, has clipped its wings to Iraq, Jordan, and Lebanon until June 30, and won’t fly to Iran until July 30. As for Turkish Airlines, their Baghdad, Damascus, and Tehran flights are grounded until at least July 1. So much for connecting the East and West.

US and Canadian Airlines

United Airlines has issued the travel equivalent of a weather warning: expect turbulence. Flights to and from Dubai (June 18 – July 3) and Tel Aviv (June 13 – August 1) might be disrupted, but they’re offering no-fee rebookings. “Middle East unrest” sounds like the understatement of the month.

Air Canada has axed its daily non-stop from Toronto to Dubai as of June 18, with no promises on when it’ll be back. Your best bet? A European detour, courtesy of a partner airline—if you’re lucky.

American Airlines is getting in on the flexibility game, waiving change fees for those booked to fly to Doha between June 19 and July 20. Generous—or just realistic?

Asian Airlines

Singapore Airlines isn’t taking chances. It cancelled eight flights to Dubai, with two per day grounded from Sunday through Wednesday. When Singapore plays it safe, you know it’s serious.

The skies over the Middle East are looking like a no-fly zone in all but name. Airlines are sidestepping danger, travellers are scrambling to reroute, and “direct flight” is starting to sound like a fantasy.

Make sure you check your travel route before you start packing.

[Source: IOL]