Several airlines have suspended flights to the Middle East since Israel struck Iran. Things have gone even further since the U.S. bombed Iranian nuclear sites.
Satellite imagery shows damage to the Fordow Nuclear Facility in Central Iran, following last night’s strikes against the underground complex by the U.S. Air Force. At least six impact sites from 12 GBU-57A/B MOP (Massive Ordnance Penetrator) 30,000lb “Bunker Buster” Bombs… pic.twitter.com/5d6CGiq8B8
— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) June 22, 2025
Delta suspended service to Tel Aviv, Israel, until at least September. United halted Tel Aviv through at least July. And Newark – Dubai was suspended also. American nerfed their Philadelphia – Doha service.
Lufthansa ceased its Tel Aviv and Tehran sevice through July 31, 2025, and had even paused Amman. KLM halted routes across the region and BA did as well.
These suspensions aren’t limited to U.S. and European carriers. Emirates cancelled Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, and Iran and their Iran and Iraq cancellations are ongoing. Even Qatar temporarily cancelled flights to Iran and Iraq, although their flights are again scheduled. And Russian carriers were instructed to stop using the airspace of Iran, Iraq, Israel, and Jordan until June 26, 2025, with flights to airports in Iran and Israel off-limits for civil carriers.
Qatar, though, wants you to know that they’ll fly through anything.
We have some of the best people in the business working behind the scenes to keep our network strong and secure, and to ensure we remain the airline you can trust and rely on. pic.twitter.com/0GkhDcLVzP
— Qatar Airways (@qatarairways) June 22, 2025
Iranian airspace is probably safe, actually? Iran’s own foreign minister had to seek Israeli permission to fly to Europe because Israel currently controls Iranian airspace. So as long as Israel clears you then it seems like you’re fine.
At the same time, I read Qatar’s note as “We’re friends with the Iranians, and we may be their only friend left, don’t worry they won’t mess with us.”
In some ways Qatar-Iran cooperation is surprising, because the Iranian govenrment is dominated by Shia Muslims and Qatar is generally Sunni. However the two countries co-own the world’s largest gas deposit (North Dome/South Pars). So when Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain, and Egypt blockaded Qatar in 2017, Iran opened its airspace and ports and delivered food. Iranian air routes kept Qatar Airways flying.
Doha has funded the Muslim Brotherhood and Hamas. It has sought influence over Syrian rebels and Sudanese factions in competition with Saudi Arabia. That’s made them allies with Saudi enemy Iran. Yet it also tilts towards the West, hosting America’s Al Udeid Air Base.
Neither side in the current conflict is actively going against Qatar. Nonetheless, since accidents happen in the fog of war, I might still avoid flying through the region – as all remaining commercial flights will be doing to the extent possible.
Good. Qatar Airways has been one of the most reliable and luxurious airlines, especially during the pandemic when many were not operating. And DOH airport is epic.
Apparently, Emirates is also flying, regardless of events, too. Again, good. Just flew them from Dubai. All went well. Oh, and they got showers on the a380. C’mon, freakin’ awesome.
Just take a slightly different routing. That’s all. Easy peasy.
“Leroy Jenkins was unavailable for comment.”
One other point (the same could be said of China), is that the world generally views the Iranian people favorably (as they do the Chinese), it’s the Governments that are unfavorable. So, in the interest of potential regime change and happier days ahead, it would appear that they are avoiding civilian targets (excepting high-level military/nuclear domiciles): Suggesting no airports, oil refineries, businesses, marketplaces, power plants, anything that a future society would need.
@TexasTJ — Well said. Let’s hope it stays that way. Though, clearly the current Iranian regime had no qualms hitting civilians and hospitals in Israel. So, if Iran were to attack civilians in the Gulf (Qatar, UAE, Saudi, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, etc.), whether it’s airlines or airports, that’d be a major escalation, and a quick way to get those countries directly involved and against Iran (if they aren’t already). Further, the talk of blocking the Strait of Hormuz is dumb, too, for similar reasons. Not a way to ‘make friends.’ Even the CCP may soon be upset if they can’t get their cheap oil as easily.
Hopefully as Americans fly these airlines they don’t become Iran hostages!
Anyone old enough here to remember the past?
Or do we only think about luxury seats and showers in the air?
Not to be a worry wort but just sayin
I don’t know, I still can’t get a friggin award seat in Business Class on QR at least through November.
@Mak — With QR, there used to be a sweet spot, 70K one-way, often in Qsuite from many US cities to DOH, and even connecting onward to really nice places, like MLE, HKT, etc. It still happens, just usually more last-minute, like week-of.
Look on the bright side, if folks like @dwondermeant get their way, and people make decisions based on ‘fear’ instead of reality (these routes are still quite safe), then maybe demand will reduce and more award space becomes available.
Oh, and buddy, this ain’t 1979, and the shower is awesome. So, yeah, enjoy that 5 minutes of ‘heaven’ onboard. Besides, last notable ‘hijacking’ was 2021 when Belarus forced Ryanair to land so they could take that guy flying from Greece who said mean things about their dictator. I remember.
Finally, recall earlier this year, Gary hypothesized that if the tariffs (or other factors) caused a global recession, then there at least would be some ‘deals’ in the airline and hotel sectors. He’s probably right. Whether it’s worthwhile for the entire economy to suffer, well, that’s a different evaluation.
Of course Gary won’t mention how Israel also funded Hamas, as that will mean he gets sent to Room 101
Qatar is doing what it needs to to survive.