Israel attacks Iran: flydubai cancels flights across 16 nations

Dubai – Dubai-based airline flydubai has temporarily suspended flights to many destinations due to the "ongoing developments in the region." The cancellations affect services to 16 countries on Friday, June 13, and Saturday, June 14.

The airline stated it is "monitoring the situation closely and adjusting our flight schedule accordingly." Flydubai apologised for any inconvenience caused to passengers, reiterating that "the safety of our passengers and crew remains our top priority."

A flydubai spokesperson confirmed the extensive list of affected destinations, which includes:

• Armenia

• Azerbaijan

• Belarus

• Georgia

• Iran

• Iraq

• Israel

• Jordan

• Kazakhstan

• Kyrgyzstan

• Lebanon

• Russia

• Syria

• Tajikistan

• Turkmenistan

• Uzbekistan

This widespread disruption to air travel follows significant Israeli airstrikes on Iran, which took place in the early hours of Friday, June 13. Iran reported explosions in Tehran and other areas and has closed its airspace indefinitely. Simultaneously, Iraq and Jordan also announced the closure of their airspaces and airports as a precautionary measure.

These closures directly impact some of the world's busiest air corridors, particularly those connecting Europe and Asia.

Major airlines from across the globe, including Emirates, Etihad Airways, Qatar Airways, Lufthansa, Air France, and Air India, have been forced to cancel, delay, or reroute thousands of flights to avoid the affected regions. This marks a significant escalation in regional tensions, which had previously led to similar, though less extensive, aviation disruptions following an Israeli strike on Iran in October 2024.