Regardless of the threats, some airways proceed to schedule flights via the airspaces of Iran, Iraq, and Yemen—areas with vital dangers of missile hearth and terrorist assaults.
A substantial variety of airways proceed working over Iran, Iraq, and Yemen, a Maariv investigation revealed, whereas most Western and North American airways persistently keep away from flying in these areas resulting from fears of plane being focused.
Airways from the Center East, Russia, and even elements of Asia and Europe nonetheless observe common routes there. Some achieve this through the use of what is named “excessive altitude flights,” i.e., flying above 32,000 toes, hoping this reduces the danger of being hit by missiles.
One of many foremost causes international locations like Israel, the US, Germany, and the UK prohibit flying over Iran is not only the instant risk of a missile strike, but in addition the broader strategic threat of safety escalation within the area. Iran’s nuclear program and the potential for elevated tensions resulting in navy motion or Iranian retaliation make Iranian airspace notably risky.
In such a state of affairs, a civilian plane flying via Iranian airspace might discover itself in an energetic battle zone or be mistakenly focused by missile methods. Moreover, any emergency touchdown in Iran—whether or not resulting from a medical difficulty or a technical malfunction—might expose the plane, crew, and particularly Israeli, American, or European passengers to critical dangers, together with arrest, interrogation, and even political extortion.
Lately, a number of incidents have proven how emergency landings in hostile international locations can spark crises. A notable instance was the Ryanair aircraft pressured to land in Belarus, which was then used as a device by the regime. In Iran itself, international nationals have beforehand been held as bargaining chips. The risk in such circumstances shouldn’t be solely operational but in addition political. One chilling instance for Israelis is the opening episode of the sequence Tehran, the place two Israelis are pressured into an emergency touchdown in Tehran and are subsequently interrogated underneath threats and torture.
The opening of the sequence Tehran. (credit score: KAN 11)
Who’s flying over Iran?
Iranian airspace, referred to as the Tehran FIR (Flight Info Area), has been thought of notably harmful for the reason that Iranian missile downing of a Ukrainian passenger aircraft in January 2020.
Regardless of this, a number of airways from the Center East, Asia, and even Jap Europe proceed to fly over Iran every day. Emirates and flydubai function direct flights to Tehran from the south. Qatar Airways has resumed routing flights via Iraq and Iran, together with flights to Kathmandu, Delhi, and Kuala Lumpur.
Flights crossing Iran are primarily these touring between Western Europe and South Asia or the Far East. Notable routes embody:
Route B411 – Crosses Iran from the northwest (bordering Turkey) to the southeast, via Tehran, Yazd, and Kerman.
Route L124 – Crosses central Iran within the Zahedan space, persevering with to Pakistan, Oman, or India.
These routes are considerably shorter than detours through the Gulf, Caucasus, or Saudi Arabia.
Which airways are utilizing Iranian airspace?
Emirates
flydubai
Qatar Airways
Turkish Airways
Pegasus Airways
Aeroflot
Uzbekistan Airways
Air Serbia
Jazeera Airways
Air Arabia
Kam Air (Afghanistan)
Mahan Air (Iran)
Syrian Air
Which airways fully keep away from Iran?
Lufthansa, SWISS, Austrian Airways
British Airways
KLM
Air France
Iberia
Finnair
Scandinavian Airways (SAS)
Virgin Atlantic
American Airways
United Airways
Delta Air Traces
Israeli airways (El Al, Israir, Arkia, Haifa Air) – additionally do not fly over Iran, Iraq, or Yemen
Yemen: A transparent pink line
Most worldwide aviation authorities outline Yemeni airspace as fully off-limits. The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), underneath regulation SFAR 115, imposes a complete ban on flying over Yemen. European international locations such because the UK, Germany, and France additionally name for full avoidance.
Yemen is within the midst of a navy battle, and the Houthi terrorist group continues to launch superior missiles, together with towards Israel. Nearly no business airways fly over Yemen, aside from uncommon routes far offshore above the Purple Sea.
In some circumstances, regulators enable flights over Iraq and even Iran—however solely at very excessive altitudes, normally above FL320 (32,000 toes). That is thought of out of attain for shoulder-fired missiles and fundamental air protection methods. Nevertheless, it doesn’t defend in opposition to ballistic missiles or superior air protection methods, as previous incidents have proven.
As anticipated, Israeli airways—El Al, Israir, Arkia, and Haifa Air—don’t fly over any hostile international locations. Even on flights to the far east, they route through Cyprus, Turkey, Georgia, or Azerbaijan, bypassing Iran and Iraq completely. Since they aren’t permitted to land in enemy states, any threat of technical failure necessitates full avoidance of these areas.
Backside line: Most main international airways, as famous, do keep away from flying over Iran, Yemen, and Iraq. That mentioned, in case you’re involved, it’s price checking the airline’s web site to evaluate the deliberate route earlier than reserving your flight.
