Iran-Isreal conflict adds to the airline woes in the Middle East
Dubai: In a significant blow to the aviation industry, Iran's missile and drone attacks on Israel have caused massive disruptions to global airlines.
The attacks, which saw over 300 missiles and drones fired at Israel, forced at least a dozen airlines to cancel or reroute flights, including Qantas, Lufthansa, United Airlines, and Air India.
The disruptions are the biggest single to air travel since the attack on the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001.
According to Mark Zee, founder of OPSGROUP, which monitors airspace and airports, the situation will likely create chaos for a few more days.
The attacks have further narrowed options for planes navigating between Europe and Asia, as Iran's airspace is used by airlines travelling between the two continents. As a result, carriers will be restricted to two viable alternative routes: either through Turkey or via Egypt and Saudi Arabia.
The latest routing problems are a blow to an industry already facing a host of restrictions due to conflicts between Israel and Hamas and Russia and Ukraine.
The unrest has forced major Middle Eastern airlines, including Emirates Airlines, Qatar Airways and Etihad Airways, to cancel or reroute some flights. However, they have said they will resume operations in the region.
According to Brendan Sobie, an independent aviation analyst, passenger demand has remained robust despite ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza.
However, if the political situation and conflicts continue to escalate, people may become concerned about travelling. It remains to be seen whether or not the latest unrest will impact passenger demand in the long term.