Airlines are avoiding Iranian and Lebanese airspace and cancelling flights to Israel and Lebanon, amid concerns over possible regional conflict.
Unease And Anxiety Following Killing Of Senior Members Of Militant Groups
The killing of senior members of militant groups Hamas and Hezbollah this week, has caused unease and anxiety.
Airlines Avoiding Iranian Airspace
Singapore Airlines on Friday appeared to no longer be using Iranian airspace for any of its routes, according to flight tracker Flightradar24.
The airline did not respond to a request for comment.
Taiwan’s EVA Air and China Airlines also appeared to be avoiding Iran airspace for flights to Amsterdam on Friday.
These flights previously had flown over Iran, Flightradar24 data showed.
The airlines did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the route changes.
In a bulletin, OPSGROUP, a membership-based organisation that shares flight risk information, advised traffic between Asia and Europe to avoid Iranian and Iraqi airspace.
On Thursday, Reuters had learnt that top Iranian officials would meet the representatives of Iran’s regional allies from Lebanon, Iraq and Yemen to discuss potential retaliation against Israel.
Many Airlines Already Avoid Flying Over Iran
Many airlines, including U.S. and European airlines, already avoid flying over Iran.
This began happening all the more following the missile and drone attacks in April between Iran and Israel.
London Bound Flight Avoided Crossing Through Iran
Singapore Airlines’ flight to Heathrow in London early on Friday went north of Iran through Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan.
The Singapore carrier avoided crossing through Iran as it had done the day before, Flightradar24 showed.
However, several airlines were still flying over Iran, on Friday.
These including United Arab Emirates carriers Etihad, Emirates EMIRA.UL and FlyDubai, Qatar Airways and Turkish Airlines.
Several Airlines Have Suspended Flights To Tel Aviv
Over the past two days, Air India AIRID.UL, Germany’s Lufthansa Group LHAG.DE, U.S. carriers United Airlines UAL.O and Delta Air DAL.N, and Italy’s ITA Airways said they had suspended flights to Tel Aviv.
Airlines are also cancelling and delaying flights to Beirut after a strike in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights on Saturday.
Israel has blamed the attack on Lebanon-based armed group Hezbollah, which denied involvement.
Canada Issues Notice To Canadian Aircraft
Canada has issued a notice to Canadian aircraft to avoid Lebanese airspace for one month.
Britain Advices Pilots Of Potential Risk
Britain has for the past month advised pilots of potential risk from anti-aircraft weaponry and military activity in Lebanon’s airspace.
In case an all-out war break out in the Middle East, Ops Group said civil aviation is likely to face the risk of drones and missiles crossing airways.
An Increased Risk Of GPS Spoofing
It also projected an increased risk of GPS spoofing
This is a malicious technique that manipulates the Global Positioning System (GPS) data, thereby misleading a GPS receiver about its actual location.
This is a growing phenomena around Lebanon and Israel where militaries and other actors broadcast signals that mislead a plane’s GPS system.
