Iran-Israel Conflict Forces Airlines to Choose Longer Routes
- Lufthansa among carriers that have suspended some flights
- Air France seeking to restart flights to Beirut on Monday
Passengers wait at Beirut Rafic Hariri International Airport as Lebanon closed its airspace to all flights after the Iran's attack on Israel, on April 14.
Photographer: Houssam Shbaro/Anadolu via Getty Images
Iran’s first direct attack on Israel over the weekend has complicated flights in one of the most densely traversed regions of the world, forcing airlines to choose lengthy detours from cities like London and Paris to destinations in the Persian Gulf or India.
Several Middle Eastern countries including Jordan, Iraq and Lebanon temporarily closed their airspace over the weekend as Iran launched drones and missiles. Both Israel and Iran also imposed restrictions on airline traffic, requiring airlines to rerout, thereby extending flight times and adding to fuel costs.