The European Aviation Safety Agency stated on Monday that it is closely monitoring the situation in the Middle East and its impact on civil aviation. The agency continues to recommend caution in Israel and within a radius of up to 100 nautical miles around it, and it also maintains its advice for caution in Iranian airspace.
Global airlines faced disruptions in flights on Monday after Iran’s missile and drone attacks on Israel limited options for flights between Europe and Asia. The Iranian attack on Israel involved over 300 missiles and drones, most of which were intercepted by Israel's Iron Dome defense system with support from the United States, leading to chaos in the aviation sector. At least 12 airlines had to cancel or alter their flight routes over the past two days, including Qantas, Lufthansa, United Airlines, and Air India.
This is the largest disruption to air travel since the attacks on the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001, according to Mark Zi, founder of O.P.S. Group, which monitors airspace and airports. Israel closed its airspace on Saturday before reopening it on Sunday morning. Jordan, Iraq, and Lebanon also resumed flights over their territories. Major airlines in the Middle East, including Emirates, Qatar Airways, and Etihad Airways, announced on Sunday that they would resume operations in the region after previously canceling or altering some flights.
Independent aviation analyst Brendan Sobie stated that it is still unclear whether the recent disruptions will affect passenger demand, which has remained strong despite ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza.
