Scenes from Dubai airport as global airlines cancel flights across the Middle East
Scenes from Dubai airport as global airlines cancel flights across the Middle East
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Airlines internationally have announced cancelled and disrupted flights to the Middle East after the US and Israel struck Iran Saturday, as several countries in the region including Iran closed or partially closed their airspace.
Lufthansa announced cancellations of flights to and from Tel Aviv, citing the safety of passengers and crew members as a “top priority.”
British Airways said it was cancelling flights to and from Tel Aviv and Bahrain for several days. It also said its flight on Saturday to Amman, Jordan, has been grounded.
Virgin Atlantic announced it had cancelled its flight from London Heathrow to Dubai, a popular tourist hotspot, on Saturday, as “a precautionary measure.” “We’re closely monitoring the evolving situation in parts of the Middle East following recent political developments in the region,” the airline said.
Italian airline ITA Airways said in a statement it had suspended flights to and from Tel Aviv and would not use the airspaces of Israel, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq and Iran until March 7. It has also suspended flights to and from Dubai until March 1, for “operational reasons.”
Carriers including Air France, Turkish Airlines, and Air India have also announced disruptions to flights to the region.
The EU aviation agency has issued a conflict-zone alert, urging airlines to halt flights over the Middle East and Persian Gulf until Monday. The agency cited high risks not only in Iranian airspace but neighboring states which host US military bases.
Egypt’s aviation ministry said Egyptian airspace remained operating at full capacity and airports in the country were on high alert for receiving flights that had been forced to reroute.
CNN’s James Frater contributed reporting.