A fresh wave of flight cancellations has disrupted air travel across the Middle East as escalating tensions between the United States and Iran fuel fears of a wider military confrontation. Major international airlines have suspended or scaled back services, citing a deteriorating security situation.
Air France, KLM, Lufthansa and several other carriers cancelled flights to Israel and key Gulf destinations late Friday, according to aviation news network Air Live. The suspensions, many of which extend through the weekend, have stranded thousands of passengers and further disrupted regional air connectivity.
Airlines suspend services to Israel, Gulf hubs
Air Live reported that Air France and KLM halted flights not only to Tel Aviv but also to major hubs in the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar.
KLM said it had cancelled all overnight flights to Israel and the Gulf through Sunday and remained in “close contact with the government” while reviewing safety conditions.
Lufthansa Group restricted flights to Israel to daytime operations and extended its avoidance of Iranian and Iraqi airspace. North American carriers United Airlines and Air Canada also cancelled scheduled services to Tel Aviv for Friday and Saturday.
According to The Times of Israel, Air France and KLM have suspended flights to Israel, Dubai and Saudi Arabia until at least Sunday due to “security tensions in the region”. Lufthansa had already halted night-time flights to Israel until at least the end of January.
Last week, Iran temporarily closed its airspace for nearly five hours amid fears of possible US military action, forcing airlines to cancel, reroute or delay flights. Several carriers, including IndiGo and Air India, said their international operations were affected, while Lufthansa and ITA Airways confirmed they would continue avoiding Iranian and Iraqi airspace and suspend night services to Tel Aviv.
Aviation risk groups have warned that missile and drone activity in the region poses a serious threat to civil aviation.
US military build-up raises stakes
The flight disruptions come as Washington ramps up its military presence in the Middle East. The Pentagon has deployed additional assets to the region, including an aircraft carrier strike group and thousands of troops, according to the Associated Press.
US President Donald Trump said an American “armada” was heading towards Iran, renewing warnings over Tehran’s handling of protests and its nuclear programme.
“We have a massive fleet heading in that direction, and maybe we won’t have to use it,” Trump told reporters, describing the deployment as precautionary.
The aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln and accompanying destroyers are moving towards the region and are expected to join existing US naval assets in the Persian Gulf and Bahrain. Additional US Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle jets and military cargo aircraft have also been deployed, while the UK has sent Typhoon fighter jets to Qatar in a defensive role.
Iran protests and disputed death toll
The geopolitical escalation is unfolding against the backdrop of a severe crackdown on protests in Iran. The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) said it has confirmed 5,002 deaths, including 4,714 protesters, during recent demonstrations, while noting that the actual toll could be higher due to prolonged internet shutdowns, AFP reported.
Iranian authorities have given a much lower official figure of 3,117 deaths, which rights groups have disputed. HRANA said at least 26,852 people have been arrested, while Norway-based Iran Human Rights warned the final death toll could reach 25,000.
Iran has rejected US claims that pressure from Washington halted planned executions of protesters, with its prosecutor general calling the assertion “completely false.”
