Major Airlines Cancel Flights to Israel and Gulf States
KLM, Air France, and Lufthansa cancel or adjust flights to Israel, Dubai, and Riyadh as US-Iran tensions escalate. Thousands stranded amid widening airspace closure
Amid growing regional tensions and fears of widespread security deterioration, several Western airlines have announced immediate suspensions of flights to Israel and select Gulf destinations over the weekend.
Dutch carrier KLM and French airline Air France declared on Friday the cancellation of all flights to and from Israel for the next 48 hours. KLM specifically halted services to Israel as well as to other Middle Eastern points, including Saudi Arabia's capital Riyadh and Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. The company cited the current situation in the Middle East as the reason, with flights tentatively set to resume on Sunday.
According to KLM's statement, the cancellations are purely precautionary. The airline is currently avoiding airspace over Iran, Iraq, and Israel, along with additional areas in the Persian Gulf, making it unable to operate the affected routes. KLM emphasized that all impacted passengers have received personal notifications. Those who do not wish to wait for rebooking can opt for either a credit voucher or a full refund.
In the past week, Lufthansa announced an extension of its flight cancellations to Israel, despite reports of a potential delay in a U.S. attack on Iran. The Lufthansa Group, which includes Lufthansa, Swiss, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, and Eurowings, stated that until December 31, it will operate only daytime flights to Israel.
This adjustment allows air crews to return to their bases without overnight stays in the country.The disruptions have left thousands of passengers stranded, highlighting the broader impact of the escalating situation in the region.