Airspace reopens: Air Arabia flights to Georgia, Armenia, Iran, Iraq resume

Sharjah: Sharjah-headquartered budget carrier Air Arabia has announced the resumption of flights from its hub to various destinations across Iran, Iraq, Georgia, and other key cities, effective Tuesday, July 1.

The airline announcement comes as Iran reopened its airspace late last night, coinciding with a sustained ceasefire after 12 days of intense fighting with Israel.

Iraq and Israel reopened their respective airspaces on June 24 after Israel and Iran agreed to the ceasefire. The Iranian airspace remains restricted, and only international flights with the prior approval of the Iranian Civil Aviation Authority are permitted, according to chAviation.

Among the destinations where flights will resume from Sharjah are several cities in Iran, including Mashhad, Shiraz, Lar, and Najaf. Additionally, routes to Iraqi cities such as Baghdad, Erbil, and Basra will recommence AS WELL.

Beyond the immediate region, Air Arabia will also resume flights to strategic destinations in the wider Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and Caucasus regions. This includes Samara, Ufa, and Kazan in Russia, Yerevan in Armenia, Baku in Azerbaijan, and Tbilisi in Georgia, further strengthening Air Arabia's regional footprint.

The announcement was made via a notice shared with Gulf News to trade partners. Passengers have been encouraged to pre-book their flights, select their seats and meals, and make necessary arrangements for baggage and insurance.

Following Tuesday’s developments, where Israel and Iran agreed to a fragile ceasefire after 12 days of intense fighting, UAE residents are keen to reclaim their summer plans. Many with summer travel plans eagerly awaited the full reopening of Iranian and Iraqi airspaces to embark on their months-long vacations, said travel agents.

The sentiment among travel agents indicates a significant shift from the concern felt just days ago, following heightened tensions that saw airspace closures and widespread flight disruptions across the region, including the UAE.

“Rebooking has already begun; people feel like this issue is over, and life is returning to normal," said Afi Ahmed, Chairman of Smart Travels. "They are feeling a bit stress-free. Until yesterday, people were very worried, but now we're getting normal calls, and travel bookings are flooding back in.”

While airspace restrictions have been partially lifted over Israel and Iran, commercial flights are resuming airspace, which has since officially reopened to international traffic after a 12-day closure. That said, travel remains subject to heightened caution and route adjustments by many airlines.