AviationSingapore Airlines, Scoot, Eva Air and China Airlines are among carriers avoiding Iranian air space.

Middle East tensions have airlines on high alert

|
Airlines have been heading north of Iran over central Asian countries such as Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan.
Airlines have been heading north of Iran over central Asian countries such as Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan. Photo Credit: Flightradar24

Soaring tensions in the Middle East are forcing airlines to redirect flight paths away from Iranian and Lebanese airspace, resulting in longer flight times.

Singapore Airlines, Scoot, Eva Air and China Airlines are among carriers avoiding Iranian air space.

Flights operated by several airlines were seen to be heading to the north of Iran over central Asian countries such as Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan, Flightradar24 plane tracking shows.

However, a number of airlines continued to fly over Iran, including Etihad, Emirates, and FlyDubai from the United Arab Emirates, as well as Qatar Airways and Turkish Airlines.

Both the US and UK governments have urged their citizens to leave Lebanon immediately amid fears that attacks on Israel by Iran, which backs Lebanon-based Hezbollah, are imminent.

JDS Travel News JDS Viewpoints JDS Africa/MI