The conflict between Israel and Iran is causing disruptions to flights to major cities in the Middle East, such as Dubai and Doha. As the United States carries out airstrikes on Iran's key nuclear facilities, military tensions in the region are rising. Korean Air, which has direct flights to Dubai, operates normally as it does not pass through the Israel-Iran airspace.
On the 22nd (local time), the Financial Times reported, citing the flight tracking site FlightRadar24, that a British Airways flight from London's Heathrow Airport to Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), changed its destination midair shortly after taking off at 9:53 p.m. on the 21st. The flight landed in Zurich, Switzerland, after 9 hours of travel. The original flight time for the London to Zurich segment is less than two hours. Flights scheduled for that day to Doha, Qatar, and the following day to Dubai and Qatar were canceled.
British Airways noted, "We adjusted our flight schedule to ensure the safety of our customers and crew following the recent incident." The airline had previously suspended flights to Bahrain between Saudi Arabia and Qatar until the 30th. On the same day, Singapore Airlines also canceled two flights to Dubai. More than 150 airlines, including Air France-KLM, American Airlines, and Japan Airlines, are currently changing or suspending their flights to the Middle East.
Dubai and Doha are major aviation hubs in the Middle East. Their geographical position between the East and West, along with government-led concentrated investments, has made them key bases for airlines worldwide. Many long-haul routes connecting the United States, Europe, and Asia pass through this region.
In the past, European airlines would fly between Iraq and Iran to exit into the Persian Gulf when heading to Asia; however, since Israel attacked Iran, they have been taking detours. Longer flight times increase expenses. Deutsche Lufthansa stated that flights from Frankfurt or Munich to East Asia now take up to an additional hour.
Korean Air's flights within the Middle East only include those to Dubai, with plans to operate normally without detours or cancellations. A representative from Korean Air said, "Since we do not pass through Iranian airspace and enter from the Oman side, we believe it will not have a significant impact on operations."