Empty airspace over Iran, throughout a brief closure of the nation’s airspace amid issues about potential navy motion between the US and Iran, on this screengrab obtained from the web on January 15, 2026. Reuters-Yonhap
LONDON－ European airways like Wizz Air, Lufthansa and British Airways dodged Iraqi and Iranian airspace on Thursday, based on flight monitoring web sites, opting as a substitute for routes over Afghanistan and central Asia in an effort to mitigate dangers related with the continuing geopolitical turmoil in Iran and the Center East.
Iran closed, then reopened its airspace after almost 5 hours on Wednesday amid issues about potential navy motion between the U.S. and Iran that pressured airways to cancel, reroute or delay flights. Regardless of the airspace reopening, many airways, together with Singapore Airways and TUI , continued to make use of different routes, based on FlightRadar24. In the final two years, many Western airways have modified their routing within the Center East, with many flying over Afghanistan extra usually regardless of ongoing Taliban rule, in an effort to keep away from different extra turbulent battle zones.
Earlier on Wednesday, Germany issued a brand new directive cautioning the nation’s airways in opposition to getting into Iranian airspace, shortly after Lufthansa rejigged its flight operations throughout the Center East amid escalating tensions within the area.
“We keep away from Iraqi and Iranian airspaces, due to this fact some westbound flights from Dubai and Abu Dhabi airports should make (refuelling and crew change) stops in Larnaca, Cyprus or Thessaloniki, Greece,” a Wizz Air spokesperson mentioned on Thursday.
Carriers like Ryanair have moved a few of their routes away from the Center East in latest months in an effort to keep away from the turmoil surrounding Israel, Iran and different nations. Others like Air France have lengthy prevented Iranian airspace.
