Airlines have begun rerouting and cancelling several flights across the Middle East as tensions escalate between Iran and the United States, prompting heightened safety measures across international aviation networks. Carriers are steering clear of sensitive airspace in the region, leading to longer flight paths and potential disruptions for passengers.

The situation intensified after President Donald Trump stated that the United States had an “armada” heading towards Iran. In response, a senior Iranian official said Iran would treat any attack “as an all-out war against us,” as a US military aircraft carrier strike group and additional assets were expected to arrive in the Middle East.

In light of the developments, the European Union’s aviation regulator advised airlines to avoid Iranian airspace following rising concerns over regional stability and security threats. Several major carriers have since adjusted their operations as a precautionary move.

KLM announced it would avoid flying over large parts of the Middle East until further notice. A spokesperson for the airline said, “As a precaution, given the geopolitical situation, KLM will not fly through the airspace of Iran, Iraq and Israel and will not fly over several countries in the Gulf region.”

Air France temporarily suspended its service to Dubai before resuming operations, stating that it was closely tracking developments in the region. The airline said it “continuously monitors the geopolitical situation of the territories served and overflown by its aircraft.”

Lufthansa confirmed that it is bypassing Iranian and Iraqi airspace until further notice. The airline also restricted its services to certain destinations and warned that some flights could be cancelled due to these operational changes.

British Airways temporarily suspended flights to Bahrain as a precaution, while maintaining that it continued to closely monitor the evolving situation. The airline later confirmed that services had resumed as scheduled.

Finnair stated that it had stopped flying through Iraqi airspace and was instead routing flights to Doha and Dubai over Saudi Arabia. The carrier had already been avoiding Iranian, Syrian and Israeli airspace due to security concerns.

Wizz Air also confirmed that it avoids Iraqi and Iranian airspace, noting that some westbound flights from Dubai and Abu Dhabi require refuelling and crew change stops in Larnaca or Thessaloniki as a result of longer routes.

As tensions remain high, airlines continue to reassess flight operations in real time, prioritising passenger and crew safety while navigating the complex geopolitical landscape.