Risks Weigh Upon Middle East Flight Operations

With the latest collapse of a ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran, flight-planning resource OpsGroup is reporting no new airspace closures or major routing changes in the region thus far as the war in Iran heats up again. It noted that most Gulf flight information regions (FIR) remain open to overflights, although most are still using tactical routes and flow management. Kuwait, it added, remains the exception as overflights through the OKAC/Kuwait FIR remain prohibited at least through August 4.

EASA, however, is advising operators to avoid the airspace of Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, the UAE, and the Gulf of Oman at all levels, and to weigh potential risks before operating into Israel, Jordan, Oman, and Saudi Arabia. In the latter, a missile and drone attack forced the closure of four airports in the Southern part of the kingdom (OEAB, Abha; OGEN, Jizan; OENG, Najran; and OESH, Sharurah) this week.

For Europe-Asia flight routing, OpsGroup stated the two main options remain unchanged from March: north via the Caucasus and then over Afghanistan, or south via Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Oman.

The group warned that GPS jamming and spoofing remains a concern across the region, with air traffic control compensating by issuing above-normal amounts of runway heading departure notifications and radar vectors.

Operators should expect fuel delays, extra towing/hangar time, and slower ground handling at some airports in the region.