Middle East: Flight disruptions likely to continue across various airports in Middle East through mid-October amid increasing tensions /update 1

Flight disruptions, including suspensions and cancellations, are likely through at least mid-October amid increased tensions between Israel, Iran, and the Lebanese Hizballah (LH). The European Union's Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) Conflict Zone Information Bulletins (CZIBs) recommend EU air operators not operate in the airspaces of Iran, Israel, and Lebanon at all flight levels. The recommendation is valid until Oct. 31 but can be revised earlier if the situation changes. If the regional tensions continue to escalate, similar warnings, recommendations, or closures will likely be issued by various Civil Aviation Authorities (CAA).

As of Oct. 5, all foreign airline services remain suspended at Beirut-Rafic Hariri International Airport (BEY). Middle East Airlines (ME), Lebanon's flag carrier, is the only carrier continuing to offer flight service to and from BEY. Lebanese authorities have asserted that foreign airlines will be required to reapply for permission to provide flight service to and from BEY. Below are listed airlines that have announced recent changes or suspensions of flights.

• British Airways (BA): Flight operations are suspended in Israel until at least late October.

• Emirates Airlines (EK): Flight operations are suspended in Israel until further notice and in Iran and Iraq until at least Oct. 7. Following an operational review, EK will resume services to Jordan on Oct. 6. On Oct. 4, EK also issued a new policy prohibiting the transportation of pagers and walkie-talkies in checked or cabin baggage.

• Flydubai (FZ): Following an operational review, flight operations to Iran, Iraq, Israel, and Jordan resumed on Oct. 4

• Qatar Airways (QR): Flight operations suspended in Iraq and Iran until further notice

• Transavia (HV): Flights operations suspended in Jordan and Israel until further notice

Airline officials may amend or issue new announcements at short notice, and additional airlines may announce similar measures in the coming days. If cross-border exchanges of fire increase, temporary airspace closures in the region, including Israel, Iraq, Iran, and Jordan, are possible. This could cause significant flight disruptions as airlines rapidly cancel, divert, or delay flights to avoid the area.