As hostilities intensify between Israel and Iran, the global aviation sector has been severely disrupted, with over 6,000 flights cancelled in the last 48 hours, according to international aviation sources and real-time flight tracking data.
Airports in conflict-affected and neighbouring countries, including Tel Aviv, Tehran, Damascus, Baghdad, Beirut and Amman, have either ceased operations entirely or are functioning under heavy restrictions. Airspace over Iran, Israel and Baghdad has remained closed for two consecutive days, with limited transit permitted through Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria under strict conditions.
FlightRadar24, a real-time air traffic tracking service, reported that approximately 3,000 flights were being cancelled each day from airports in the conflict zone, disrupting both regional and global schedules.
Ben Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv, Israel’s primary air hub, has been one of the worst-hit facilities. Israeli airline El Al, alongside international carriers such as Air France, Wizz Air, Ryanair, and Delta Air Lines, have suspended operations to and from Israel. Delta further announced its suspension will remain in effect until the end of August.
The escalation follows Israel’s announcement on Friday that it had launched targeted strikes against Iranian nuclear facilities, ballistic missile factories, and senior military commanders, warning of a prolonged campaign to prevent Tehran from developing a nuclear weapon. The Israeli military has placed its air defence units on high alert and closed Ben Gurion Airport.
In a ripple effect across the region, Iran, Iraq and Jordan have all announced the closure of their respective airspaces. Iraq’s state media confirmed that all air traffic across its territory was suspended early Friday. Eastern Iraq, which lies along one of the busiest air corridors connecting Europe and the Gulf, has been emptied of flights.
Similarly, Jordan closed its airspace shortly after the Israeli strikes began, while Lebanon, Syria and parts of Saudi Arabia have imposed partial overflight restrictions, only allowing limited passage with prior clearance.
Major Middle Eastern carriers have responded with sweeping flight suspensions. Emirates has halted operations to and from Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon and Iran, while Qatar Airways announced cancellations to Iran, Iraq and Syria. Air India, which operates transcontinental flights over Iran, said services from New York, Vancouver, Chicago and London have been diverted or returned to their points of origin.
Germany’s Lufthansa said it has suspended all flights to Tehran and is avoiding Iranian, Iraqi and Israeli airspace "until further notice." Meanwhile, Israeli carriers Israir and Arkia have moved aircraft out of the country as a precautionary measure.
Russia’s civil aviation authority, Rosaviatsia, has also instructed all Russian airlines to avoid the airspace of Iran, Iraq, Israel and Jordan until June 26. It further barred Russian civil aircraft from flying to destinations in Iran and Israel.
The mounting tensions in the Middle East have sent shockwaves through the global aviation and financial sectors. Shares in major airlines declined sharply on Friday, with British Airways parent IAG dropping 4.6%, Delta Air Lines down 4%, and Ryanair slipping 3.5%. The conflict has also contributed to a spike in oil prices, raising concerns over jet fuel costs.
The latest developments follow an earlier incident on May 4, when a missile launched by Yemen’s Houthi rebels landed near Tel Aviv’s airport, prompting many airlines to halt flights to Israel.
