On June 13 2025 Israel launched a large scale military operation dubbed Operation Rising Lion against Iranian nuclear military and ballistic missile sites. Strikes hit hubs such as Natanz and Fordow as well as senior IRGC officials resulting in at least 78 killed and 320 injured within Iran. Iran responded by launching over 100 drones and missiles at Israel with some intercepted and several cities experiencing sirens and explosions.
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The violence triggered widespread airspace closures. Iran Iraq Jordan Israel and Syria shut down civilian flights and tens of thousands of flights were either cancelled or rerouted across the region. Eurocontrol reported about 1800 Europe bound flights disrupted of which 650 were cancelled.
UAE Airlines Suspensions Reroutes and Cancellation
flydubai
flydubai officially confirmed suspension of flights on June 13 14 to a wide range of destinations Armenia Azerbaijan Belarus Georgia Iran Iraq Israel Jordan Lebanon Kazakhstan Kyrgyzstan Russia Syria Tajikistan Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. Additionally several flights were rerouted mid air or returned to origin airports.
Etihad Airways
Abu Dhabi’s flagship airline cancelled key routes on June 13 16 including Abu Dhabi Tel Aviv and Abu Dhabi Amman flights with some experiencing delays. It also announced specific cancellations on June 14 for flights to Beirut EY583 EY584 and cancelled future transit bookings through Abu Dhabi.
Emirates
Emirates scrapped flights to from Iraq Jordan Lebanon Iran and Baghdad between June 13 and 15. This included multiple Tehran Basra Amman Beirut and Baghdad services with entire transit routes through Dubai halted.
Air Arabia
Sharjah based Air Arabia temporarily cancelled flights to Iran Iraq Jordan Russia Armenia Uzbekistan Azerbaijan Georgia Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan on June 13 14 with possible additional delays or reroutes.
Also read: Gold Demand Increases Amid Iran Israel Conflict Prices Rise
Wider Industry Disruptions
Major global carriers from Air France KLM Lufthansa Qatar Airways Ryanair Wizz Air Pegasus Turkish Airlines to Air India cancelled or rerouted flights to destinations like Tel Aviv Tehran and other regional hubs through late June or beyond. US carriers such as United and Delta suspended services to Tel Aviv mid flight eg UAL84 or cancelled flights through August 2025 leaving thousands of passengers stranded.
Airspace Rerouting and Logistical Impact
With Iran Iraq Jordan and Israel’s airspaces off limits airlines rerouted routes primarily south via Egypt and Saudi Arabia or north via Türkiye Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan. These detours increased flight times and fuel costs affecting global aviation profitability. Gulf airspace including Egypt’s and Saudi Arabia’s corridors saw increased traffic and navigation fees.
Safety Economics and Travel Advisory Context
Safety With missiles and drones crossing common corridors safety concerns have intensified. Historical precedents like MH17 2014 and flight PS752 2020 underline the risks.
Market Reaction Airline stocks dropped 3 to 5 percent eg Lufthansa Air France IAG. Oil prices surged 7 to 11 percent feeding into higher operating expenses.
Government Advice UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and foreign governments issued advisories urging travelers to check flight status avoid affected regions and prepare for cancellations.
- Passenger Advice and Airline Response
- Travelers are urged to
- Confirm flight status on airline websites or apps.
- Monitor airspace conditions as the closure over Iran remains indefinite.
- Prepare for reroute delays and additional layovers with some flights diverted to hubs like Baku or Cyprus.
- Use airline support lines for rebooking or refunds particularly through Abu Dhabi Dubai and Sharjah hubs.
Looking Ahead What Comes Next
Until airspace restrictions are lifted which may take days or weeks airlines are adjusting routes and operations continuously. Travelers to from the region should
- Watch for updates from Emirates Etihad flydubai Air Arabia and global carriers.
- Be prepared for significant delays cancellations or changes.
- Stay informed via Eurocontrol FlightAware and official government advisories.
Summary
Israel’s June 13 strikes on Iran triggered widespread airspace closures and caused UAE carriers Emirates Etihad flydubai Air Arabia to cancel or reroute flights across the Middle East and Central Asia. Global airlines followed suit. With the uncertainty around when airspace will reopen travelers face ongoing disruption and must remain vigilant flexible and proactive.