Airspace across the Middle East has been shut as the United States and Israel launched a full-scale strike on Iran. With the dispute between the United States and Israel and Iran likely to continue for the time being, disruptions to global air travel are also expected to persist.
Iran's Civil Aviation Organization said on the 28th (local time) that the country's airspace has been closed indefinitely following U.S. and Israeli strikes. Earlier, the agency had announced a six-hour closure, which it extended indefinitely.
Israel also announced an airspace closure, including a ban on civilian aircraft entering its airspace.
Qatar, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which came under attack on U.S. military bases within their borders, also said they would close their airspace for the time being. Syria decided to temporarily close its airspace as a precaution.
Airlines around the world, notified of Middle Eastern airspace closures, are canceling flights to the region. Turkish Airlines said it was canceling flights to the Middle East due to the regional airspace shutdown. Emirates, the UAE flag carrier, also said multiple flights were disrupted.
British Airways said it would cancel flights to Tel Aviv and Bahrain through the 3rd of next month due to the strikes. A flight to Amman, Jordan, departing that day was also canceled.
Gatwick Airport in the United Kingdom posted a notice that, due to airspace restrictions in the Middle East, some flights departing Gatwick for the region could face delays and cancellations.
Russian authorities also said they would suspend flights to Iran and Israel for the time being.