đ° Airlines Divert and Suspend Flights After Israel Attacks Iran
In the early hours of June 13, 2025, Israel launched Operation Rising Lion, a major strike on Iranâs nuclear and military facilities. This triggered widespread airspace closures spanning Israel, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, and Syria, causing severe disruptions across global aviation (en.wikipedia.org, thetimes.co.uk).
âď¸ Flight Disruptions
- Air India diverted 16 flightsâsome rerouted through Vienna, Frankfurt, or returned midâflightâas part of âOperation Rising Lionâ (businessinsider.com).
- Major carriers like Emirates, Etihad, Qatar Airways, Lufthansa, Air France/KLM, Delta, United, El Al, and Israir have either suspended routes or canceled flights to the region (cbsnews.com).
- Over 1,800 Europeâbound flights have been affected, with approximately 650 cancellations, as airlines reroute via Central Asia and the Mediterranean (cntraveler.com).
đ¨ Passenger & Safety Advisories
Controllers advise travelers to check airline apps, visit official airline sites, and monitor government travel advisories. Platforms like FlightAware and Flightradar24 offer live updates on rerouted flights and delays (cntraveler.com).
đ Broader Impact
This escalation marks yet another instance where geopolitical instability severely impacts international travel, raising concerns over passenger safety, travel costs, and scheduling reliabilityâthe fallout of rising fuel and airfare disruption fears (barrons.com).
đ Suggested Authoritative Sources
- Reuters â comprehensive coverage and flight reroute data
- CondĂŠ Nast Traveller â overview of safety measures
- Business Insider â traveler guidance & airline specifics
- Barronâs â stock market and airline sector impact