Aviation Sector on High Alert Amid Iran-Israel War

Aviation Sector on High Alert Amid Iran-Israel War

By Bing Jabadan – Thenationweek.com

June 25, 2025

MANILA, Philippines – The aviation sector is on high alert amid the United States’ airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities.

As Iran vowed retaliation, safety concerns were raised over vital air corridors.

Airlines across North America, Europe, and Asia have begun canceling flights, particularly in Doha, Qatar, and Dubai, and are finding other routes to avoid the dangerous Iran-Israel airspace.

Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific have yet to ground their international flights to the Middle East.

Although the situation remains fluid, airlines cautiously eye a return to normal operations.

This has forced carriers to constantly reassess risks and adapt to swiftly changing airspace regulations.

Singapore Airlines has deemed the situation “fluid,” extending its cancellations of flights to Dubai through Tuesday.

Iberia has grounded its Doha flights for the weekend by following its risk assessment. 

Similarly, Air France KLM and Finnair have suspended operations to and from Dubai and Riyadh, while Air Astana has scrapped its Monday service to Dubai.

Some airlines, however, are resuming operations.

British Airways plans to restart flights to Dubai and Doha after an initial suspension.

The Middle East’s critical role as a transit hub between Europe and Asia, especially with the ongoing closure of Russian and Ukrainian airspace, is compelling airlines to devise practical solutions, an aviation official said.

To safely navigate the conflict zone, airlines are rerouting flights either north over the Caspian Sea or south through Egypt and Saudi Arabia.

However, these detours come at a cost, inflating operational expenses due to longer flight times and soaring jet fuel prices.

Airspace Safety Takes Center Stage

The emergence of conflict zones adds complexity to airline operations, with the looming threat of attacks on commercial flights.

Compounding the situation is the rise in GPS spoofing incidents, where ground-based systems emit false location data in politically unstable regions.

Flightradar24 has reported a significant increase in such incidents over the Persian Gulf, with SkAI, a Swiss GPS disruption monitoring service, noting over 150 aircraft affected in just one day.

Safe Airspace, a platform specializing in flight risk assessments, warned that US military actions against Iran could elevate risks for American airlines operating in the Middle East.

The platform highlighted potential repercussions for airspace safety in Gulf nations, including Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.

Prior to the US strikes, American Airlines, United Airlines, and Air Canada had suspended flights to Qatar and Dubai, with no immediate plans for resumption.

While international airlines are largely retreating, local carriers in Jordan, Lebanon, and Iraq are cautiously resuming select operations.

Israel Steps Up to Aid Stranded Travelers

In response to international travel disruptions, Israel is ramping up its flight services to assist stranded travelers.

It plans to operate 24 flights daily to facilitate the return of both citizens and foreign nationals, albeit with a cap of 50 passengers per flight.

Israeli airline El Al has also reported a surge in demand for outbound flights, receiving applications from about 25,000 individuals in just a day.