Mideast chaos hits SA flights

AIRSPACE: CLOSURE AFFECTS LONG-HAUL SERVICES

- Hein Kaiser

HOLD-UP. Passengers at the closed Emirates check-in at London Heathrow Airport yesterday, as flights were halted after the US and Israel's strikes on Iran and Tehran's reciprocal attacks on Saturday. Picture: AFP

(AFP)

The temporary closure of large sections of Middle Eastern airspace has disrupted not only outbound travel from SA but also inbound flights, with multiple long-haul services cancelled and further suspensions extended until this morning.

Airports Company South Africa (Acsa) confirmed yesterday that operations by Gulf carriers were directly affected following the escalation of conflict involving Iran, Israel and the US.

At OR Tambo International Airport, eight flights were cancelled, including one inbound arrival and seven outbound departures.

Cape Town International Airport had four outbound cancellations and King Shaka International Airport in Durban reported two outbound cancellations.