Following intensified Israeli strikes on military targets in Iran, Iran, Syria, and Iraq have closed their airspace to all flights.
This unprecedented move, intended to secure the airspace amid escalating tensions, affects civilian, commercial, and non-operational military flights until at least Saturday morning. While Iran initially announced a reopening at 9am, the closure has since been extended indefinitely.
The Israeli strikes, which targeted key military sites across Iran, sparked an immediate response on Iranian social media, with users expressing concerns over possible further actions by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF).
Images shared online showed passengers disembarking from grounded flights in Iranian airports, underscoring the disruption’s impact on regional air travel and the substantial financial losses incurred by airlines.
Flight data highlights that the distance from Israel to Tehran is roughly 1,600 kilometres. With speeds reaching up to 2,400km/h (Mach 2.0) for an F-16 and 1,931 km/h (Mach 1.6) for an F-35 at high altitude, the estimated flight time from Tehran back to Israeli airspace is around 50 minutes. This time may extend by an additional 15 to 30 minutes if mid-air refuelling is required, depending on specific operational needs.
