LONDON/CAIRO: Iran has advised civilian airlines around the world to avoid flying through Iranian air space, the Egyptian state-affiliated Al Qahera News TV quoted an Egyptian official source as saying on Wednesday.
Iranian air space is to be avoided due to military exercises, the source added.
Egypt instructed all of its airlines to avoid Iranian air space for a three-hour period in the early morning on Thursday. Officials told Sky News Arabia that the Notice to Air Missions or NOTAM that was issued earlier for the Airspace over Iran for Thursday between 0100-0400 UTC, are for Pre-Planned Military Exercises that they were notified of by the Iranian Government.
“Based on a report from Iranian authorities to all civil aviation companies, flights over Iranian airspace are to be avoided,” the unnamed official was quoted as saying.
“Such a NOTAM from Egypt is very unusual. It is possible that this is an indicator of an Iranian response to Israel, and in turn a potentially large set of air space disruptions – at the same time, there may be another reason,” OPSGROUP, a membership-based organisation that shares flight risk information, said.
Egypt has issued a Notam a short time ago, warning Egyptian carriers not to overfly the Tehran FIR tonight between 0100 and 0400 UTC. pic.twitter.com/osYmA9Tb9v
— OPSGROUP (@_opsgroup) August 7, 2024
“All Egyptian carriers shall avoid overflying Tehran (Flight information Region) FIR. No flight plan will be accepted overflying such territory,” the notice said, referring to the three-hour period provided.
It provided no further details.
Many airlines are revising their schedules to avoid Iranian and Lebanese airspace while also calling off flights to Israel and Lebanon as many fear a possible broader conflict after the killing of senior members of militant groups Hamas and Hezbollah.
On Wednesday, Iran’s Acting Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani said Iran’s response to the killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran will take place “at the right time and in the appropriate shape.”
On Sunday, Jordanian authorities asked all airlines landing at its airports to carry 45 minutes’ worth of extra fuel.
Countries in the region, including Jordan, closed their airspace earlier this year amidst aerial attacks on Israel.
Another report said that UK airline operators had also been advised not to enter the Beirut airport (FIR) due to increased military activity.
UK issue new NOTAM recommending UK operators to not enter Beirut FIR "due to potential risk to aviation from military activity"
NOTAM is in effect from today until November 4th. https://t.co/5bfnGmTgVD pic.twitter.com/rVDoGb07kF
— Faytuks News (@Faytuks) August 7, 2024
The NOTAM is effective from today until November 4th. The primary risk includes potential GPS spoofing and increased military operations near the Israel-Lebanon border, it said.
