Moscow has ordered Russian airlines to stop flying to Iran and Israel following escalating military tensions in the Middle East. Several Gulf nations have also closed their airspace, forcing carriers to find longer alternate routes.
MOSCOW – Russian aviation authorities announced Saturday that all domestic airlines have halted service to Iran and Israel as military tensions escalate across the Middle East region.
The flight suspensions come after Israel conducted what it described as a preemptive strike against Iran on Saturday, marking a significant escalation in regional hostilities and dealing another blow to diplomatic efforts aimed at resolving Iran’s nuclear standoff with Western nations.
According to Russia’s Transport Ministry, the decision was made after both Iranian and Israeli authorities shut down their respective airspace. Working alongside the federal aviation regulator Rosaviatsiya, Russian carriers had already developed backup flight paths to maintain service to Persian Gulf destinations while ensuring passenger safety.
Officials warned that travel times to the region will be extended due to the necessity of using longer routing around the affected areas.
The aviation crisis expanded later Saturday when Rosaviatsiya issued additional guidance after Bahrain, Iraq, Qatar and Kuwait also sealed off their airspace as a safety precaution. The United Arab Emirates has implemented temporary flight restrictions as well.
Russian aviation regulators are now directing airlines to utilize alternative flight corridors when traveling to Persian Gulf nations, emphasizing strict adherence to safety protocols while closely monitoring updates from international aviation authorities.
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