Britain and Egypt have instructed their airlines to avoid Iranian and Lebanese airspace, fearing an escalation of conflict in the region following the recent killing of senior members of Hamas and Hezbollah.
Airline Advisory Details
Britain’s advisory for airlines to avoid Lebanon’s airspace was issued shortly after Egypt directed its airlines to avoid Iran’s airspace for three hours early on Thursday. This move comes as airlines worldwide revise schedules to steer clear of Iranian and Lebanese airspace, and suspend flights to Israel and Lebanon.
Historical Context Of Airspace Safety
The issue of flights over conflict zones gained prominence after Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 was shot down over Ukraine a decade ago, killing all 298 people on board. This tragic incident has led to heightened caution in the aviation industry.
Specific Airline Responses
United Airlines: US-based United Airlines has suspended flights to Tel Aviv since July 31 due to security concerns, with no resumption date announced.
Delta Air Lines: Delta has paused its flights between New York and Tel Aviv until at least August 31.
British Carriers: According to Flightradar24, British carriers are currently not flying to Lebanon.
Singapore Airlines: Last Friday, Singapore Airlines stopped flying through Iranian airspace and is using alternative routes for safety.
Egyptian Directives and Military Exercises
Egyptian airlines had already been avoiding Iranian airspace. The new directive, effective from 0100 to 0400 GMT on Thursday, applies to all Egyptian carriers. The directive follows a safety notice (NOTAM) issued in response to military exercises scheduled over Iranian airspace.
Egypt’s civil aviation ministry confirmed the directive, citing a notification from Iranian authorities about military exercises. Iran’s acting Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani discussed the situation with the Egyptian foreign minister on Wednesday.
Recent Incidents and Precautions
In 2020, Iranian air defense mistakenly shot down Ukrainian International Airlines flight PS752, killing all 176 on board amid heightened US-Iran tensions. In response to the current situation, Jordan has asked airlines to carry additional fuel, reflecting regional caution.
(With Inputs from Reuters)
