After Israel strikes Iran, airlines divert flights as airspace closed
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Diverging Reports Breakdown
Israel Attacks Iran Live Updates: At least 20 top Iranian commanders killed in IDF attack, says report
Israel said it targeted Iran’s nuclear facilities, ballistic missile factories and military commanders. Airports closed and air defence units stood on high alert for possible retaliatory strikes from Iran.
Israel on Friday said it targeted Iran’s nuclear facilities, ballistic missile factories and military commanders at the start of what it warned would be a prolonged operation to prevent Tehran from building an atomic weapon.
Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport was closed and Israel’s air defence units stood on high alert for possible retaliatory strikes from Iran.
Israel’s El Al Airlines said it had suspended flights to and from Israel as did Air France KLM and budget carriers Ryanair and Wizz.
FlightRadar data showed airspace over Iran, Iraq and Jordan was empty, with flights directed towards Saudi Arabia and Egypt instead.
Middle East airspace shut after Israel strikes Iran, airlines cancel flights
Israel on Friday said it targeted Iran’s nuclear facilities, ballistic missile factories and military commanders. Israeli airlines El Al, Israir and Arkia were moving planes out of the country. Air India, which flies over Iran on its Europe and North American flights, said several flights were being diverted or returned to their origin. The escalation of the Middle East conflict knocked shares in airlines around the world with British Airways owner IAG (ICAGL) down 4% and Ryanair off 3.5%. About 1,800 flights to and from Europe had been affected so far on Friday, including approximately 650 cancelled flights, according to Eurocontrol. The Middle East region has become an even more important route for international flights between Europe and Asia, many on routes from Asia to Europe, at any one moment. The region contains one of the world’s busiest air corridors, with dozens of flights crossing between Europe, the Gulf and Asia every day. The conflict in Iran has led to commercial aviation sharing the skies with drones and missiles – some of which reportedly close enough to be seen by pilots.
Summary
Companies Iran, Iraq and Jordan close airspace and Israel shuts airport after attacks
Thousands of flights affected -Eurocontrol
Israel’s El Al and Israir evacuate planes from Tel Aviv
Airline shares down
SEOUL/LONDON, June 13 (Reuters) – Airlines steered clear of much of the Middle East on Friday after Israeli attacks on Iranian sites forced carriers to cancel or divert thousands of flights in the latest upheaval to travel in the region.
Proliferating conflict zones around the world are becoming an increasing burden on airline operations and profitability , and more of a safety concern. Detours add to airlines’ fuel costs and lengthen journey times.
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Israel on Friday said it targeted Iran’s nuclear facilities, ballistic missile factories and military commanders at the start of what it warned would be a prolonged operation to prevent Tehran from building an atomic weapon.
Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport was closed and Israel’s air defence units stood on high alert for possible retaliatory strikes from Iran.
Wizz said it had re-routed flights affected by closed airspace in the region for the next 72 hours. Israeli airlines El Al, Israir (ISRG.TA) , opens new tab and Arkia were moving planes out of the country.
FlightRadar data showed airspace over Iran, Iraq and Jordan was empty, with flights directed towards Saudi Arabia and Egypt instead.
About 1,800 flights to and from Europe had been affected so far on Friday, including approximately 650 cancelled flights, according to Eurocontrol.
With Russian and Ukrainian airspace closed due to war, the Middle East region has become an even more important route for international flights between Europe and Asia.
The escalation of the Middle East conflict knocked shares in airlines around the world with British Airways owner IAG (ICAG.L) , opens new tab down 4% and Ryanair off 3.5%. A surge in oil prices after the attack also stirred concerns about jet fuel prices.
Many global airlines had already halted flights to and from Tel Aviv after a missile fired by Yemen’s Houthi rebels towards Israel on May 4 landed near the airport.
Iranian airspace has been closed until further notice, according to state media and notices to pilots.
Air India, which flies over Iran on its Europe and North American flights, said several flights were being diverted or returned to their origin, including ones from New York, Vancouver, Chicago and London.
Germany’s Lufthansa (LHAG.DE) , opens new tab said its flights to Tehran have been suspended and that it would avoid Iranian, Iraqi and Israeli airspace for the time being.
Emirates (EMIRA.UL) also cancelled flights to and from Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, and Iran while Qatar Airways axed flights to Iran, Iraq and Syria.
Iraq early on Friday closed its airspace and suspended all traffic at its airports, Iraqi state media reported.
Eastern Iraq near its border with Iran contains one of the world’s busiest air corridors, with dozens of flights crossing between Europe and the Gulf, many on routes from Asia to Europe, at any one moment.
Jordan, which sits between Israel and Iraq, also closed its airspace several hours after the Israeli campaign began.
Russia’s civil aviation authority Rosaviatsia said it had instructed Russian airlines to stop using the airspace of Iran, Iraq, Israel and Jordan until June 26. It said flights to airports in Iran and Israel were also off limits for civil carriers.
FLIGHT DIVERSIONS
“Traffic is now diverting either south via Egypt and Saudi Arabia, or north via Turkey, Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan,” according to Safe Airspace, a website run by OPSGROUP, a membership-based organisation that shares flight risk information.
The Israeli-Palestinian conflict in the Middle East since October 2023 led to commercial aviation sharing the skies with short-notice barrages of drones and missiles across major flight paths – some of which were reportedly close enough to be seen by pilots and passengers.
Six commercial aircraft have been shot down unintentionally and there have been three near misses since 2001, according to aviation risk consultancy Osprey Flight Solutions.
Last year, planes were shot down in Kazakhstan and in Sudan. These incidents followed the downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 over eastern Ukraine in 2014 and of Ukraine International Airlines flight PS752 en route from Tehran in 2020.
Reporting by Lisa Barrington in Seoul and Joanna Plucinska in London; Additional reporting by Steven Scheer in Jerusalem, Christoph Steitz in Frankfurt, Alexander Marrow in London; editing by Jamie Freed and Jason Neely
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United and Delta passengers faced flights to nowhere as Israeli strikes on Iran led to dozens of cancellations and diversions
Iran sent 100 drones to Israel following the attacks, and a spokesperson for its armed forces warned Israel would pay a “heavy price” Dozens of flights around Asia and the Middle East were diverted or canceled on Friday. The strikes forced thousands of passengers to change of plans after airspace over Iran, Israel, and Iraq was closed.Shares in several airlines dipped on Friday, driven by a combination of the strikes and the fallout from Thursday’s Air India Boeing 787 crash. The Israeli military struck targets in Iran early on Friday,. marking a significant escalation, which has drawn a retaliation campaign from the country. The Iranian government said it would not comment on the matter.
Iranian, Israeli, and Iraqi airspace have been closed. AP Photo/Vahid Salemi
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Dozens of flights around Asia and the Middle East were diverted or canceled on Friday after Israel launched a series of military strikes against Iran’s nuclear infrastructure.
The Israeli military struck targets in Iran early on Friday, marking a significant escalation, which has drawn a retaliation campaign from the country.
Iran sent 100 drones to Israel following the attacks, and a spokesperson for its armed forces warned Israel would pay a “heavy price” for the strikes.
Related video
The strikes forced thousands of passengers to change of plans after airspace over Iran, Israel, and Iraq was closed, and airlines avoided flying anywhere near the area.
According to Flightradar24, flights within Iranian airspace either avoided the capital city of Tehran, where Iran’s nuclear facilities are located, and continued their transit or diverted out of the country.
Later, flights planned to pass through Iran were held or diverted. Flights also diverted from Israel’s main airport, Ben Gurion in the city of Tel Aviv, per the flight tracking platform.
Flights operated by both United and Delta from New York to Tel Aviv late Thursday turned around over the Atlantic after the strikes began, Flightradar data showed.
Delta and United did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Business Insider.
Air India announced in a post on X that 16 flights were diverted or returned to their origin airports at the time of the strikes, citing “the emerging situation in Iran, the subsequent closure of its airspace and in view of the safety of our passengers.”
The airline said it was trying to minimize customers’ inconvenience by providing accommodation, offering refunds, complimentary rescheduling, or alternative arrangements.
Emirates and Qatar Airways both canceled and diverted flights.
“Qatar Airways has temporarily cancelled flights to Iran and Iraq due to current situation in the region,” it wrote in a post on X.
A video posted on FlightRadar’s social media showed Iranian and Iraqi airspace clearing out in the early hours of Friday morning.
9-second video of the clearing of Iranian and Iraqi airspace. pic.twitter.com/VZLWbmk9sC — Flightradar24 (@flightradar24) June 13, 2025
Shares in several airlines dipped on Friday, driven by a combination of the strikes and the fallout from Thursday’s Air India Boeing 787 crash.
International Airlines Group, which owns British Airways, Vueling, and Iberia, declined 4%. Air France-KLM is down nearly 4%.
Air India, IndiGo Flights Affected Among Global Impact Of Israel’s Airstrike On Iran
Israel carried out targeted airstrikes against Iranian facilities on Friday. This led to a closure of airspace above Iran and Iraq. This affected airlines globally as they took sudden measures to reroute, divert or cancel their international flights. In India, the biggest hit was taken by Air India as the airspace closure affected its 16 flights on the route between Indian cities of Delhi and Mumbai. The airline issued a travel advisory for its customers saying, “Due to airspace closure over Iran and nearby regions, some flight routes may be impacted. Please check your flight status on our website or app before heading to the airport”
Airlines across the globe took a hit after Israel’s targetted airstrike led to a closure of airspace above Iran. The escalation of tension in the Middle East affected numerous airlines globally, including Indian airlines like Air India and IndiGo, as their flights had to be rerouted, diverted or cancelled.
In the early hours of Friday, Israel carried out targeted airstrikes against Iranian facilities, further intensifying the already fragile relationship between the two nations. The strikes, launched under the name ‘Operation Rising Lion’, were reportedly a direct response to growing concerns over Iran’s nuclear ambitions and its perceived threat to Israel.
With the launch of the targetted strikes against Iran, the nation had to issue notices to airmen (NOTAM) restricting movements of civil aircraft in its airspace, while the airspace of neighbouring country Iraq was also closed. According to Flightradar24’s video demonstration of the air traffic over the Middle East, all the aircraft flying over the region were diverted within nine minutes after the NOTAM was issued.
#TravelAdvisory
Due to the emerging situation in Iran, the subsequent closure of its airspace and in view of the safety of our passengers, the following Air India flights are either being diverted or returning to their origin:
AI130 – London Heathrow-Mumbai – Diverted to Vienna… — Air India (@airindia) June 13, 2025
This escalation affected airlines globally as they took sudden measures to reroute, divert or cancel their international flights. In India, the biggest hit was taken by Air India as the airspace closure affected its 16 flights on the route between Indian cities of Delhi and Mumbai to London Heathrow, New York, Washington, Newark, Vancouver, Chicago and Toronto. While a few flights were returning to their place of departure, rest of them were diverted mid-air to Vienna, Sharjah, Jeddah, Frankfurt and Milan.
“We regret the inconvenience caused to our passengers due to this unforeseen disruption and are making every effort to minimise it, including providing accommodation for passengers. Refunds or complimentary rescheduling is also being offered to guests who opt for it. Alternative arrangements are being made to fly passengers to their destinations,” said the airline in a statement.
Moreover, IndiGo flights were also impacted on the routes of Delhi-Istanbul and Mumbai-Istanbul, which were then re-routed. The airline issued a travel advisory for its customers saying, “Due to airspace closure over Iran and nearby regions, some flight routes may be impacted, potentially causing longer travel times or cancellations. Please check your flight status on our website or app before heading to the airport.”
Flightradar data shows airline diversions as Israel strikes Iran
Airlines divert and cancel flights to and from Iran, Iraq and Jordan. Airspace in the Middle East was crossed daily by 1,400 flights last year. Israel said it targeted Iran’s nuclear facilities, ballistic missile factories and military commanders. Airports in Israel, Jordan and Iraq closed their airspace after the attack. The U.S. State Department said it was working with Israel to ensure the safety of its personnel and equipment. The Israeli military said the attack was in response to a missile fired by Houthi rebels near Tel Aviv on May 4 that landed near the airport. The United States said it is working with the Israeli military to help protect its citizens and its facilities in the region from the missile attack.
Read more: Oil soars more than 6% after Israel’s strike on Iran alarms market
Israel on Friday said it targeted Iran’s nuclear facilities, ballistic missile factories and military commanders at the start of what it warned would be a prolonged operation to prevent Tehran from building an atomic weapon.
Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport was closed until further notice, and Israel’s air defence units stood at high alert for possible retaliatory strikes from Iran.
Israeli flag carrier El Al Airlines said it had suspended flights to and from Israel and was moving some of its planes out of the country.
Israeli carrier Israir said it was evacuating its planes from Tel Aviv’s airport, which it said was expected to remain closed through the weekend.
Many global airlines had already halted flights to and from Tel Aviv after a missile fired by Yemen’s Houthi rebels towards Israel on May 4 landed near the airport.
9-second video of the clearing of Iranian and Iraqi airspace. pic.twitter.com/VZLWbmk9sC — Flightradar24 (@flightradar24) June 13, 2025
Iranian airspace has been closed until further notice, according to state media and notices to pilots.
Air India, which overflies Iran for its Europe and North American flights, said several flights were being diverted or returned to their origin, including ones from New York, Vancouver, Chicago and London.
Lufthansa said its flights to Tehran have been suspended until further notice, and it would avoid Iranian, Iraqi and Israeli airspace for the time being.
Emirates, which cancelled flights to and from Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, and Iran after Israel’s attack, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Iraq early on Friday closed its airspace and suspended all traffic at its airports, Iraqi state media reported.
Eastern Iraq near the border with Iran contains one of the world’s busiest air corridors, with dozens of flights crossing between Europe and the Gulf, many on routes from Asia to Europe, at any one moment.
Jordan, which sits between Israel and Iraq, closed its airspace several hours after the Israeli campaign began.
Flight diversions
“Traffic is now diverting either south via Egypt and Saudi Arabia, or north via Turkey, Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan,” according to Safe Airspace, a website run by OPSGROUP, a membership-based organisation that shares flight risk information.
Flights from six airlines including Etihad Airways and Turkish Airlines were diverted to Baku, Azerbaijan according to its Heydar Aliyev International Airport.
An Emirates flight from Manchester to Dubai was diverted to Istanbul and a flydubai flight from Belgrade diverted to Yerevan, Armenia.
Budget carrier flydubai said it had suspended flights to Amman, Beirut, Damascus, Iran and Israel and a number of other flights had been cancelled, rerouted or returned to their departure airports.
Qatar Airways cancelled its two scheduled flights to Damascus on Friday, Flightradar24 data shows.
Airspace in the Middle East last year was crossed daily by 1,400 flights to and from Europe, Eurocontrol data show.