• Vast tracts of western Iran airspace are empty after strikes
• Soaring tensions risk further upending global air traffic ⠀

Iran shut airspace over the west of the country and its capital after Israel launched a missile strike, forcing commercial flights to reroute for the second time in less than a week as regional tensions escalate.

Air traffic between Iran and Iraq has been effectively halted, according to notices posted on a Federal Aviation Administration website, while airspace over Tehran was also closed. A raft of airports have suspended flights, including in Isfahan — where explosions were reported to have been heard Friday — and the city of Shiraz, the Mehr news agency reported. ⠀

FlyDubai said in a statement it had canceled all flights to Iran on Friday and flight FZ1929, which was heading to Tehran, had returned to Dubai due to airspace closures. Emirates did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Bloomberg News.

Soaring tensions in the Middle East risk further upending flights in one of the most highly trafficked regions of the world. Over the weekend, Iran’s direct attack on Israel saw several countries temporarily close their airspace, forcing major carriers including Qantas Airways Ltd. and Singapore Airlines Ltd. to draw up alternative plans.

Archive link