Iran reopened its airspace early Thursday morning. The country had closed it for nearly five hours. This shutdown happened because of fears about possible military action between the United States and Iran. The closure disrupted airline operations across the entire region.
Airspace Closure and Reopening Details
The United States Federal Aviation Administration published a notice on its website. It stated that Iran shut its airspace at 5:15 p.m. Eastern Time on Wednesday. That time converts to 2215 GMT. During the closure, only international flights with special official permission could operate to and from Iran.
The flight-tracking service Flightradar24 showed the notice was lifted. This happened shortly before 10 p.m. Eastern Time, which is 0300 GMT on Thursday. Iranian carriers were among the first to resume flights. Mahan Air, Yazd Airways, and AVA Airlines started operating over Iranian airspace again after the reopening.
Background of Rising Tensions
The temporary airspace shutdown occurred during a tense period. US President Donald Trump was considering potential responses to the situation in Iran. Iran has been witnessing its largest anti-government protests in many years.
A US official provided information. Washington had started withdrawing some personnel from military bases in the Middle East. This move came after a senior Iranian official issued a warning. Tehran stated it would target American bases in the region if the US launched any strikes.
Major Airline Disruptions and Advisories
The heightened tensions prompted immediate action from airlines globally. Carriers had to cancel, reroute, or delay multiple flights. Germany issued a fresh advisory on Wednesday. It cautioned German airlines against entering Iranian airspace.
Lufthansa, the German carrier, made significant adjustments. It changed flight operations across the Middle East. The airline will avoid Iranian and Iraqi airspace until further notice. Lufthansa added another precaution. It will operate only daytime flights to Tel Aviv and Amman through Monday. This avoids overnight stays for crew members. The airline warned that some flights could face cancellations as a result.
The United States already has strict rules in place. It bars all US commercial aircraft from overflying Iran. There are no direct flights between the two countries currently.
International Carrier Responses
Several international airlines have taken action over the past week. flydubai and Turkish Airlines are among them. These carriers have cancelled multiple services to Iran.
Safe Airspace is a flight risk monitoring platform run by OPSGROUP. The organisation provided an assessment. It said several airlines have already reduced or suspended services. Most carriers are now avoiding Iranian airspace altogether.
The organisation issued a serious warning. Escalating tensions could lead to further security or military activity. This includes the risk of missile launches. It also involves heightened air defence operations. These factors increase the danger for civil aircraft. They could be misidentified in such a volatile environment.
The aviation industry remains on high alert. Airlines continue to monitor the situation closely for any new developments.
