Egypt has instructed all of its airlines to steer clear of Iranian airspace for three hours on Thursday morning, citing flight-safety concerns due to military exercises conducted by Iran.
Egypt's decision to implement the temporary flight restriction comes amidst heightened tensions between Israel and Iran. The Notice to Air Missions (NOTAM), issued on Wednesday, provided no specific details regarding the nature of the military exercises but instructed all Egyptian carriers to avoid overflying Tehran's Flight Information Region (FIR) from 0100 to 0400 GMT.
Egypt Airlines Avoids Iranian Airspace Amid Rising Iran-Israel Tensions
The Egyptian civil aviation ministry subsequently confirmed that the notice was issued in response to a notification from Iranian authorities regarding military exercises scheduled from 11:30 to 14:30 Tehran time (0730 to 1030 GMT) on Thursday and from 04:30 to 07:30 Tehran time (0230 to 0530 GMT) on Friday.
Sources have indicated that Iranian authorities requested airlines to avoid flying in their airspace due to these military exercises. The NOTAM from Egypt has raised concerns among industry experts, as such restrictions are unusual and may signal an imminent escalation in tensions between Iran and Israel.
Egypt Airlines Avoids Iranian Airspace Amid Rising Iran-Israel Tensions
Moreover, many airlines are adjusting their schedules to avoid Iranian and Lebanese airspace, while some have suspended flights to Israel and Lebanon altogether. Jordan had previously requested all airlines landing at its airports to carry 45 minutes worth of additional fuel on Sunday, and countries in the region, including Jordan, had closed their airspace earlier this year during aerial attacks on Israel.
The heightened tensions between Iran and Israel have escalated recently following the killing of senior members of Hamas and Hezbollah in separate incidents. Israel has accused Iran of providing military support to these groups, and there is concern that the situation could further deteriorate, leading to a broader conflict.
Egypt's decision to avoid Iranian airspace serves as a precautionary measure to ensure the safety of its airlines and passengers. The military exercises conducted by Iran, coupled with the growing tensions with Israel, have prompted Egypt to take this step to mitigate potential risks.
The situation in the region remains volatile, and it remains to be seen whether the current tensions will subside or escalate further.
