By Joe Brock
SINGAPORE (Reuters) – Global airlines faced flight disruptions on Monday after Iran’s missile and drone attacks on Israel further narrowed options for planes sailing between Europe and Asia.
Iran’s attack on Israel with more than 300 missiles and drones, most of which were shot down by the US-backed Israeli missile defense system, has caused chaos in the aviation sector.
At least a dozen airlines have had to cancel or reroute flights in the past two days, including Qantas, Germany’s Lufthansa, United Airlines and Air India.
According to Mark Zee, founder of OPSGROUP, which monitors airspace and airports, it was the biggest disruption to air travel since the attack on the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001.
“Since then we haven’t had a situation with so many different airspaces closed in such quick succession, and that creates chaos,” Zee told Reuters, adding that the disruptions would likely last a couple more days.
The latest routing problems represent a blow to an industry already facing a series of restrictions due to conflicts between Israel and Hamas, and between Russia and Ukraine.
Iranian airspace is used by airlines traveling between Europe and Asia and such carriers will be limited to two viable alternative routes, through Turkey or through Egypt and Saudi Arabia, Zee said.
Israel closed its airspace on Saturday, before reopening it on Sunday morning. Jordan, Iraq and Lebanon also resumed flights over their territories.
Major airlines in the Middle East, including Emirates Airlines, Qatar Airways and Etihad Airways, said on Sunday they will resume operations in the region after canceling or rerouting some flights.
It is not yet clear whether the latest unrest will impact passenger demand, which has remained strong despite ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza, said Brendan Sobie, an independent aviation analyst.
“If the political situation and conflicts continue to worsen, sooner or later people will be worried about traveling, but so far this has not happened,” Sobie said.