Airlines massively change routes after Israeli strikes on Iran
13 June 11:13
After Israel’s missile strikes on Iran, airlines around the world began to urgently change their routes, and a number of countries closed their airspace. The situation has created serious challenges for the global aviation industry. This was reported by "Komersant Ukrainian" with reference to Reuters.
What happened?
On the night of June 13, 2025, Israel announced strikes on nuclear facilities, ballistic missile factories, and military command posts in Iran to prevent Tehran from developing nuclear weapons. In response, Iran launched dozens of drones.
The operation marked the beginning of a potentially protracted conflict in the region.
According to Flightradar24, on Friday, June 13, airlines left the airspace over Israel, Iran, Iraq, and Jordan after Israel launched attacks on targets in Iran. Air carriers were forced to divert and cancel flights to ensure the safety of passengers and crew.
Massive airspace closures
In response to the escalation:
- Israel closed Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv until further notice.
- Iran, Iraq and Jordan blocked the skies for commercial aviation.
- Eastern Iraq, through which one of the world’s busiest air corridors passes, has completely stopped air traffic.
Also, Israel’s flagship airline El Al Airlines (ELAL.TA) announced that it was suspending flights to and from Israel. According to state media and messages to pilots, Iranian airspace is also closed.
Emergency flight diversions
Many airlines – including Emirates, Lufthansa, Air India, Etihad, flydubai – have been forced to cancel, divert or return flights. In particular:
- Emirates diverted its Manchester-Dubai flight to Istanbul;
- flydubai redirected a flight from Belgrade to Yerevan;
- several Air India flights to Europe returned to New York, Vancouver, Chicago, and London.
According to Flightradar24, air traffic now bypasses the region either through Egypt and Saudi Arabia or through Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Turkmenistan.
Security and economic impact
The conflict creates additional risks for passenger aviation. According to Osprey Flight Solutions, six commercial aircraft have been accidentally shot down since 2001, and three more have escaped disasters.
In addition, the escalation of the conflict has already affected the markets: oil prices have risen by more than 7%, and airline shares have fallen by 3-5%.
