Middle East Airspace Closures Disrupt Global Flights, Cancelations, Reroutes

Following Israel's airstrikes on Iranian nuclear and military sites, a vast no-fly zone was imposed over Iran, Israel, Jordan, Syria, and Iraq, leading to widespread disruption of commercial air traffic in the Middle East. Major airports including Tehran’s Mehrabad, Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion, and Amman’s Queen Alia International were closed, while airlines such as El Al, Air India, and Emirates suspended or rerouted flights to avoid the conflict zones. Flight-tracking data from Flightradar24 showed rapid departures and rerouting of planes, leaving Iranian airspace devoid of commercial flights and forcing airlines worldwide to adjust routes, causing extended travel times and increased fuel costs. The closure of this critical air corridor also impacted key hubs like Dubai International and Dubai World Central, resulting in flight cancellations and delays. Airlines and airports have urged passengers to check flight statuses and allow extra travel time amid ongoing uncertainty. The escalating conflict, dubbed "Operation Rising Lion" by Israel, has thus significantly disrupted global air travel and heightened concerns over safety and economic fallout in the aviation sector.