Following a wave of U.S. attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities, flight tracking data from FlightRadar24 has revealed a near-total shutdown of airspace over Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Israel. This has forced airlines to seek alternate and longer routes, either north via the Caspian Sea or south through Egypt and Saudi Arabia—significantly increasing fuel and crew costs.

The airspace closures come at a time when global aviation is already under pressure. With Russian and Ukrainian skies also shut due to ongoing war, the Middle East had become a key corridor for flights connecting Europe and Asia.

Major Airlines Cancel Flights Amid Security Concerns

According to Reuters, airlines worldwide are responding with widespread cancellations. Air France KLM cancelled services to Dubai and Riyadh for Sunday and Monday, while Singapore Airlines suspended flights from Singapore to Dubai, citing ongoing security assessments. British Airways, owned by IAG, also cancelled flights to and from Dubai and Doha on Sunday and has offered flexible rebooking for affected customers through July 6.

In the U.S., American Airlines suspended flights to Qatar, while United Airlines did the same for services to Dubai in the days leading up to the strikes.

Singapore Airlines warned that flights beyond the immediate cancellations could also be affected, describing the situation as “fluid.”

Israel Reopens Airspace for Limited Operations

On Sunday, Israel reopened its airspace for six hours, allowing rescue flights to bring home stranded citizens and evacuate tourists. According to Israel’s Airports Authority, the country will expand these operations starting Monday, with 24 rescue flights daily, each carrying a maximum of 50 passengers.

Israeli carrier El Al said it received requests from around 25,000 people in just one day and is now planning to service eight international destinations to meet the surge in demand.

Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv and Haifa Airport in the north were both operational on Sunday between 1100 and 1700 GMT for rescue landings.

Economic and Human Impact Mounts

The disruptions are not only logistical but economic. Airlines are bracing for a potential spike in oil prices driven by conflict, which would increase jet fuel costs—already one of their biggest expenses.

For travelers, the disruption is deeply personal. Nearly 40,000 foreign tourists in Israel are seeking ways out, with many heading by land to Jordan’s Amman and Aqaba, through Egypt, or by sea to Cyprus. Meanwhile, Israelis stranded abroad are relying on limited rescue operations to return home.

Civil Aviation Threats Rise

Safe Airspace, a flight risk monitoring platform run by OPSGROUP, warned that U.S. military action in Iran has increased the potential threat to American operators in the region. While no specific threats to civilian aircraft have been reported, Iran has previously indicated it could retaliate against U.S. interests, possibly via regional proxies like Hezbollah.

The threat now extends beyond Iran to include airspace over Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, according to Safe Airspace.