Airlines Steer Clear of Middle East Skies After U.S. Strikes on Iran

In the wake of escalating tensions and U.S. military action targeting Iranian nuclear facilities, commercial airlines are dramatically rerouting flights to avoid Middle Eastern airspace—marking a clear shift in global aviation patterns shaped by growing safety concerns.

According to flight tracking site FlightRadar24, much of the airspace over Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Israel remains eerily quiet. Airliners are opting for longer, more expensive paths—northward over the Caspian Sea or south through Egypt and Saudi Arabia—to steer clear of potential threats. These alternative routes mean longer travel times, higher fuel costs, and added pressure on crews, but for airlines, safety is non-negotiable.

“This isn’t just about saving money or time anymore,” said one pilot who asked not to be named. “This is about keeping passengers and crew out of harm’s way in a volatile region.”

Although no direct threats to civilian aircraft have been made, aviation watchdogs remain alert. Safe Airspace, a service by the aviation risk group OPSGROUP, cautioned that the U.S. strikes could trigger retaliatory action that may indirectly put civil aviation at risk—especially in light of past threats from Iran and its regional proxies.

Since Israel’s strike on Iran on June 13, commercial carriers have been gradually pulling back. Some flights have been canceled altogether. American Airlines and United Airlines both suspended services to Qatar and Dubai, respectively. On Sunday, Israel’s major airlines—El Al, Arkia, and Israir—announced they would suspend all rescue flights. El Al is also halting regular flights through June 27.

With Israel’s airspace officially closed to all flights, the scramble to get home or to safety has intensified. Tens of thousands of Israelis and foreign travelers remain stranded abroad, while nearly 40,000 tourists inside Israel are now desperate to leave. Many are finding alternate ways out—crossing into Jordan on land or boarding boats bound for Cyprus.

In a sign of how far-reaching the crisis has become, Japan’s foreign ministry confirmed it evacuated 21 individuals from Iran via Azerbaijan, while New Zealand is dispatching a military aircraft to stand by for evacuations. The C-130J Hercules is expected to take several days to reach the region, with government officials also in talks with commercial airlines to help move citizens out of harm’s way.

While the skies may seem quiet, the message is loud and clear: when conflict escalates on the ground, the fallout reaches the clouds. And for now, the skies over the Middle East remain a no-go zone.