European airlines cancel flights due to tensions in the Middle East
Several European airlines are suspending or canceling flights to destinations in the Middle East after Israel and the United States launched attacks on Iran. Carriers cite security concerns as the reason for their decisions and are continuing to monitor the situation.
Germany's Lufthansa announced that it is suspending flights to and from Tel Aviv in Israel, Beirut in Lebanon, and Oman until March 7. A company spokesperson also said that flights to and from Dubai are canceled on Saturday and Sunday.
The Dutch airline KLM has suspended flights between Amsterdam and Tel Aviv and canceled Saturday's flight. It had originally planned to suspend flights from Sunday, March 1, but brought the date forward. Only one flight to Tel Aviv was scheduled for Saturday. The carrier is also considering whether to cancel other flights to and from the region.
Air France canceled flights to and from Tel Aviv and Beirut scheduled for February 28. The company said in a statement that it made the decision for security reasons related to the situation in the Middle East. It plans to provide further information on the flight schedule for these destinations at a later date.
British airline Virgin Atlantic has decided to temporarily avoid Iraqi airspace, which has required the rerouting of its flights. As a precautionary measure, it has also canceled Saturday's VS400 flight from London Heathrow to Dubai. "The safety and security of our customers and employees is always our top priority. We continue to monitor the situation in the Middle East through ongoing assessments and are adjusting flight routes as necessary," said a company spokesperson.
Hungarian low-cost airline Wizz Air is suspending all flights to and from Israel, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Amman with immediate effect until March 7. The carrier emphasized that it is closely monitoring the situation and is in contact with local and international authorities, including aviation safety authorities. The flight schedule may be further adjusted depending on how the situation develops.
Spanish airline Iberia Express has also joined the restrictions, canceling its Saturday flight to Tel Aviv scheduled for 5 p.m. local time. A company spokesperson told Reuters that the decision was related to the US and Israeli attacks on Iran. Iberia Express is a low-cost subsidiary of the Iberia Group.
A spokesperson for the group also confirmed that the airspace above Doha had been closed, forcing one of the flights from Madrid to turn back. The cancellations only affect Saturday for now, with the company promising further updates as the situation develops.
(reuters)