Damascus, March 9 (SANA) – Airlines operating between Asia and Europe are rapidly redrawing flight routes after multiple Middle Eastern countries closed their airspace amid ongoing military escalation since late February, creating one of the most significant disruptions to global aviation since the COVID-19 pandemic.
Several states including Iran, Iraq, Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait closed their airspace entirely, while the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia kept limited corridors open under strict security conditions.
In Syria, authorities imposed a temporary closure before partially reopening northern air routes toward Turkey and resuming operations at Aleppo International Airport. Damascus International Airport and southern airspace sectors remain closed due to security risks.
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) warned of a “high risk to civil aviation” across parts of the region, extending its advisory through the end of the week.
Despite the disruptions, Syria has resumed limited flights through Aleppo since March 4 following a security assessment. Syrian Airlines has begun operating regular flights between Aleppo and Istanbul using alternative routes over the Mediterranean to avoid conflict zones.
The closures have disrupted one of the world’s busiest aviation corridors linking Europe and East Asia. Data from aviation analytics firm Cirium shows that the southern route through Gulf transit hubs such as Dubai, Doha and Abu Dhabi has been the most affected.
Several airlines have suspended flights to destinations in the Middle East and parts of Europe, leaving large numbers of passengers stranded and forcing carriers to adopt longer alternative routes that increase flight times and fuel costs.
Aviation analysts warn that if the airspace restrictions persist, the crisis could significantly reshape global flight networks between Asia and Europe in the months ahead.
