Iran Reopens Airspace After Hours-Long Closure

Iran reopened its airspace on December 14 evening after nearly five hours of closure, which disrupted flights as airlines cancelled, rerouted or delayed some services amid fears of military action between the United States and Iran.

The airspace had been closed at 22:15 GMT to all flights except international services with official clearance, according to the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration. Tracking service Flightradar24 reported the notice was removed shortly before 03:00 GMT, and flights from Mahan Air, Yazd Airways and AVA Airlines were among the first to resume operations.

The closure came as President Donald Trump considered a response to Iran’s ongoing protests, the largest anti-government demonstrations in years. A U.S. official said some personnel were being withdrawn from Middle East bases after Tehran warned it would strike American positions if attacked.

Airlines Affected

India’s largest carrier, IndiGo, said some international flights were impacted, while Air India rerouted services, potentially causing delays or cancellations. Aeroflot returned a flight to Moscow after the closure. Germany issued new guidance advising airlines to avoid Iranian airspace, prompting Lufthansa to adjust Middle East operations.

Most carriers continue to avoid Iran. Flydubai and Turkish Airlines have suspended multiple flights recently. Safe Airspace, run by OPSGROUP, warned that the situation increased risks of misidentification of civilian aircraft due to potential missile launches or heightened air defence.

Lufthansa announced it would bypass Iranian and Iraqi airspace until further notice, operating only day flights to Tel Aviv and Amman to avoid overnight stays for crews. ITA Airways, part of the Lufthansa Group, will suspend night flights to Tel Aviv until next Tuesday.

Kursiv also reports that several international flights were forced to turn back after Iran closed its airspace.