Flight cancellations and suspensions in the Middle East due rising conflict
Global airlines have suspended or reduced flights in the Middle East as the conflict between Israel and Iran rages and the United States joins the fight.
The US carried out strikes against Iranian nuclear sites overnight on Saturday to Sunday, after over a week of deadly missile exchanges between Israel and Iran.
Among the group of major airlines that have adjusted their flight schedule was Emirates. They have temporarily suspended flights to Iran and Iraq, which will affect passengers with connections to those countries via Dubai.
In a statement released yesterday, the airline said: "Due to the regional situation, Emirates has temporarily suspended all flights to Iran (Tehran) and Iraq (Baghdad and Basra), until and including Monday 30 June 2025.
"We are operating as scheduled to all other destinations.
"Customers connecting through Dubai with final destinations in Iraq and Iran will not be accepted for travel at their point of origin until further notice."
British Airways cancelled flights between London's Heathrow Airport and Dubai and Doha on Sunday following the US strikes on Iran.
But the airline said yesterday that it was "scheduled to operate as normal" on those routes.
Air France halted flights to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates until at least today in a statement they released..
It also extended the suspension of the Paris-Tel Aviv route until July 14.
Flights of Air France's low-cost carrier Transavia from Paris to Beirut have been suspended until June 30, while the Tel Aviv route is closed until September 7.
Germany's Lufthansa Group, whose other airlines include Swiss, Austrian, and ITA, has suspended flights to the Middle East until June 30.
The Amman and Erbil, Iraq, routes were also suspended until July 11.
The group will not fly to Tel Aviv and Tehran until July 31, and is also avoiding the airspace of countries involved in the conflict.
Greece's Aegean Airlines has stopped Tel Aviv flights until July 12. Its Amman, Beirut, and Erbil routes are closed until June 28.
Turkish airline Pegasus has scrapped flights to Iraq, Jordan, and Lebanon until June 30, and Iran until July 30.
No Turkish Airlines flights to Baghdad, Damascus and Tehran are available before July 1.
United Airlines has warned passengers that flights to and from Dubai scheduled between June 18 and July 3 may be affected and was offering no-fee ticket changes under certain conditions due to the Middle East unrest.
The US airline has implemented the same flexibility for Tel Aviv flights between June 13 and August 1, allowing customers to rebook for other major European cities.
Air Canada has temporarily suspended its daily non-stop service from Toronto to Dubai starting June 18 and warned that the suspension could be extended.
American Airlines is allowing customers to change their bookings to Doha without fees for travel originally scheduled between June 19 and July 20.
Singapore Airlines has cancelled eight flights to Dubai -- two per day from Sunday through Wednesday.
AFP
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