Archive · 25 Jan 2026
Airlines Cancel Middle East Flights Amid US-Iran Tensions
Some big airlines from Europe like Lufthansa, KLM, Air France, British Airways, Finnair, and Wizz Air have stopped flying or changed their routes to places in the Middle East like Dubai, Tel Aviv, and Bahrain.
This is because there's a lot of tension between the United States and Iran.
The US president, Donald Trump, said that the US has a lot of ships going towards the Gulf to keep an eye on Iran.
Iran said that if anyone attacks them, they will treat it as a big war.
The airlines are doing this to keep their passengers safe.
The European Union’s aviation regulator also told airlines to stay out of Iran’s airspace.
European airlines including Lufthansa, KLM, Air France, British Airways, Finnair, and Wizz Air have rerouted or cancelled flights to the Middle East due to escalating US-Iran tensions.
KLM and Lufthansa will avoid flying over Iran, Iraq, Israel, and parts of the Gulf region until further notice.
Air France temporarily suspended and then resumed its service to Dubai, continuously monitoring the geopolitical situation.
British Airways temporarily suspended flights to Bahrain but resumed them by January 24.
Finnair and Wizz Air have been avoiding Iraqi and Iranian airspace, rerouting flights over Saudi Arabia and making stops in Cyprus or Greece.
- Who
- European airlines (Lufthansa, KLM, Air France, British Airways, Finnair, Wizz Air) and US President Donald Trump
- What
- Cancellation and rerouting of flights to the Middle East and US threats to Iran
- When
- Between January 14 and January 24, 2020
- Where
- Middle East, including Dubai, Tel Aviv, Dammam, Riyadh, Bahrain, Doha
- Why
- Due to escalating tensions between the US and Iran, and concerns over safety and security
Airlines and Aviation Regulators
Iranian Government
Flight Safety
Airlines and Aviation Regulators
Airlines are rerouting and cancelling flights to ensure passenger safety due to escalating tensions.
Iranian Government
Iran warns that any attack will be treated as an all-out war, implying the situation is under control.
- Airlines Affected
- Lufthansa, KLM, Air France, British Airways, Finnair, Wizz Air
- Flights Cancelled/Rerouted
- Dubai, Tel Aviv, Dammam, Riyadh, Bahrain, Doha
- Avoiding Airspace
- Iran, Iraq, Israel, and other Gulf nations
- US Warning
- Trump threatened a US 'armada' heading to the Gulf
- Iran's Response
- Iran will treat any attack as an all-out war
- EU Aviation Regulator
- Recommended avoiding Iranian airspace on January 16
Sources
Airlines cancel flights to Middle East after Trump’s ‘armada’ warning to Iran – What’s happening?
Flights to Israel, Dubai, Riyadh cancelled amid US-Iran tension; Air France, Lufthansa, Dutch KLM share details
Factbox-Airlines reroute, cancel flights as tensions ramp up over Iran
