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Following a reported Israeli military action against targets in Iran, several Middle Eastern nations, including Iran, Iraq, Jordan, and Syria, have closed their airspace, causing notable disruptions to international air travel.

Iranian aviation authorities have announced the closure of the country’s airspace until further notice, according to state media reports. Tehran’s Mehrabad Airport will remain closed until 1:30 am on Saturday, state news agency IRNA reported on Friday afternoon.

Jordan’s Queen alia International Airport in Amman has not yet announced a reopening time and is advising passengers to check with their respective airlines for updates.

Syria’s civil Aviation Authority chief, Ashhad al-salibi, informed the official SANA news agency that Syrian airspace would be “temporarily closed” until 3 pm (2 pm CEST) as a “precautionary measure.” Jordan has since reopened its airspace for through traffic with prior permission.

Earlier on Friday, Iraq also suspended all air traffic at its airports, according to state media reports.

The airspace along the Iran-Iraq border is one of the world’s busiest air corridors, serving numerous flights between Europe and Asia. Eurocontrol estimates that at least 1,800 flights to and from Europe have been affected on Friday alone.

Flights Diverted and Rerouted Due to Airspace Closures

“Syria’s civil Aviation Authority chief Ashhad al-Salibi informed…that Syrian airspace would be ‘temporarily closed’ until 3 pm (2 pm CEST).”

Iran’s Imam Khomeini International Airport instantly suspended all inbound and outbound flights after the reported strike, resulting in the cancellation of 16 flights on friday.

Flights that were already in Iranian airspace when the news broke were either diverted or returned to their origin points.

Air traffic is now being rerouted either south, through Egypt and Saudi Arabia, or north, via Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Turkmenistan.

More than ten international flights were diverted to Heydar Aliyev International Airport in Baku, Azerbaijan, including flights operated by AJet, Fly Dubai, Air arabia, Jazeera airways, etihad Airways, and Turkish Airlines.

A total of 29 flights carrying 2,427 passengers were diverted to Cyprus, with 20 flights from Europe and the US landing in Larnaca and 9 in Pafos. Passengers will be provided with hotel accommodations, according to local media reports.

Approximately 1,800 flights to and from Europe have been impacted on Friday.

Airlines Suspend and Cancel Flights

lufthansa has suspended flights to Tehran and will avoid Iranian, Iraqi, and Israeli airspace for the foreseeable future. The airline has canceled flights to Tehran and Tel Aviv until 31 July, and flights to Amman, Beirut, and Erbil in Iraqi Kurdistan until 20 June.

Swiss, Switzerland’s national carrier (also owned by Lufthansa), has suspended all flights to Tel Aviv until October and flights to Beirut until the end of July.

Low-cost carrier flydubai has suspended flights to Amman, Beirut, Damascus, Iran, and Israel. Several other flights operated by the airline have been canceled, rerouted, or returned to their departure airports.

Emirates has canceled flights to and from Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, and Iran on Friday and some on Saturday.

Qatar Airways has “temporarily cancelled” flights to Iran and Iraq due to the current regional situation.

Etihad Airways, the UAE’s national carrier, also canceled services from Tel Aviv on Friday and rerouted some services.

Hungarian-based budget airline Wizz Air has suspended flights to Tel aviv and rerouted flights affected by the closed airspace for the next 72 hours.

Air France flights to and from Tel Aviv have been suspended “until further notice” following the closure of Israeli airspace, as has Ryanair.Dutch airline KLM has canceled all flights to Tel Aviv until at least 1 July.

Delta Air Lines has advised passengers that travel to, from, or through Tel Aviv may be affected until 30 june.

Israeli airline El Al has canceled all scheduled flights to and from Israel on Friday and Saturday due to security concerns and potential Iranian counterattacks, DPA reported. The airline, known for operating its routes even during conflicts, has advised passengers to arrange for overnight stays abroad until the security situation improves.

El Al will allow passengers with departure tickets until 28 June to cancel them and convert them into travel vouchers.

New bookings for flights scheduled through 22 June have been suspended until the situation is clearer.

Manny other flights have been canceled, rerouted, or returned to their departure airports. Passengers with flights booked to affected countries, including Lebanon, Jordan, and Azerbaijan, are advised to monitor airline and airport websites closely for updates.

Government Travel Advisories

The UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Progress Office (FCDO) advises against all travel to Iran, warning that British and British-Iranian dual nationals face a significant risk of arrest, questioning, or detention. Holding a British passport or having connections to the UK can be sufficient grounds for Iranian authorities to detain individuals.

Travelers who choose to travel to Iran against official government advice should research their destinations and obtain appropriate travel insurance that covers their itinerary, planned activities, and emergency expenses.

Spain’s foreign ministry has reiterated its warning against travel to Iran under any circumstances, stating that the possibility of the situation deteriorating in the coming days has not been ruled out. The ministry advises travelers to closely monitor updates on the social media and communications channels of the Spanish Embassy in Tehran.

Romania’s Foreign Ministry (MAE) has asked its citizens in Israel to notify their representatives in the country of their presence and to follow the instructions of local authorities. The ministry also issued a advice to avoid travel to Iran, given Israel’s aerial strikes on Iranian nuclear installations.

Bulgaria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has similarly called on citizens currently in the territory of the Islamic republic of Iran to leave the country immediately. Those who must stay should strictly adhere to the security instructions of local authorities, regularly inform themselves about the situation, and avoid military sites or places where large gatherings are held.

Preventive measures to increase security in case of an escalation of the crisis were discussed, as well as possible approaches for the evacuation of Bulgarian citizens from the Middle East region.

Travel Insurance Coverage

Foreign offices warn that travel insurance might potentially be invalidated if individuals travel against their advice, specifically to areas where they have issued a ‘no-go’ warning or advise against all but essential travel.

Traveling against such advice may result in a lack of coverage for incidents, including medical emergencies and evacuations.

Additionally, if arrested or detained, the individual’s country’s embassy or officials may have limited ability to provide assistance.

Travelers who have booked with a travel agent or tour operator should contact the company directly to understand their options.