Airlines weigh cancelling Mideast flights

Commercial airlines around the world yesterday were weighing how long to suspend Middle East flights as a conflict that has already cut off major flight routes entered a new phase after the US attacked key Iranian nuclear sites and Tehran vowed to defend itself.

- LISA BARRINGTON JACK QUEEN

The usually busy airspace stretching from Iran and Iraq to the Mediterranean has been largely empty of commercial air traffic for 10 days since Israel began strikes on Iran on June 13, as airlines divert, cancel and delay flights through the region due to airspace closures and safety concerns.

New cancellations of some flights by international carriers in recent days to usually resilient aviation hubs like Dubai, the world's busiest international airport, and Qatar's Doha, show how aviation industry concerns about the region have escalated.

However, some international airlines were resuming services yesterday.

Leading Asian carrier Singapore Airlines, which described the situation as "fluid", was set to resume flying to Dubai yesterday after cancelling its Sunday flight from Singapore.

Similarly, Flightradar24 departure boards show British Airways, owned by IAG, was set to resume Dubai and Doha flights yesterday after cancelling routes to and from those airports on Sunday.