Several Gulf carriers have altered their routes to prioritise passenger safety, while neighbouring countries in the region have closed their airspace, forcing airlines to navigate alternative routes to avoid the escalating conflict.
The Indian government on Wednesday issued a travel advisory urging its nationals to avoid non-essential travel to Iran. “We are closely monitoring the recent escalation in security situation in the region. Those currently residing in Iran are requested to remain vigilant and stay in contact with the Indian Embassy in Tehran,” read the advisory.
Tensions in the Middle East have worsened after Iran’s missile attacks on Israel which followed Tel Aviv launching a ‘limited’ ground operation in Lebanon targeting Hezbollah strongholds, and the death of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in an airstrike in Beirut last week.
Airfares have surged dramatically, with Google Flights reporting that the least expensive tickets to Tel Aviv typically range from ?71,000 to ?135,000. However, as of Wednesday, prices have escalated to over ?222,000, with industry experts predicting further increases.
Affirming its commitment to safety, British Airways said, “Safety and security are always our highest priorities, and we continuously assess and adjust our operations accordingly.” Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS) has adjusted flight routes due to the latest developments in the Middle East. As a precautionary measure, the airline will “avoid the airspace over Iran, Iraq, and Jordan” until at least October 2, resulting in up to 15-minute longer flight times to Dubai, India, and Southeast Asia, it said.Additionally, SWISS will bypass “Israeli and Lebanese airspace” until October 31. For instance, flight LX242 to Dubai on October 2 has been rerouted to Antalya for refuelling before continuing to Dubai outside restricted airspace.
The airline said it is “closely monitoring the situation” and staying in contact with relevant authorities.
An official from Air India said all flights are assessed daily for security risks, stating, “Adjustments are made, if required, to avoid areas of risk with minimal impact on our non-stop operations. The situation is being monitored closely.”
In response to the ongoing conflict, several airlines have extended their suspension of flights to Israel and Lebanon. Dutch airline KLM has halted flights to Tel Aviv until the year-end, having previously suspended operations until October 26.
Lufthansa announced it would suspend flights to Beirut until November 30, to Tel Aviv until October 31, and to Tehran until October 14. Emirates cancelled flights to Iraq, Iran, and Jordan, extending its suspension to Beirut until October 8. Italy’s ITA Airways has also paused its Tel Aviv flights until October-end.
In August, many airline passengers found themselves stranded in Israel when multiple carriers, including United, American, British Airways, Lufthansa, and Air India, suspended their services to and from the country.
