Flightradar24 over the Middle East on April 14, 2024 after Iran launched drone strikes toward Israel.
Source: Flight Radar 24
Airspace reopened across the Middle East on Sunday, but dozens of flights were canceled after Iran attacked Israel with drones and missiles overnight.
Some flights avoided large areas of Middle Eastern airspace, resulting in some planes being rerouted.
The Israeli airline El Al canceled more than 20 flights on Sunday. Two El Al flights bound for Israel from Thailand were diverted to Bangkok on Saturday. The transport company asked passengers not to come to Tel Aviv Airport until they are notified.
Emirates Airlines canceled its flight from Dubai to Amman, which was scheduled to take place on Sunday. Air France and British Airways canceled their flights to Tel Aviv on Sunday. British Airways also canceled a flight to Amman.
Lufthansa said it had canceled its services to and from Tel Aviv, Erbil, Iraq and Oman until Monday and planned to resume service on Tuesday, although its flights to Beirut and Tehran were suspended until at least Thursday.
United Airlines, which resumed services to Tel Aviv early last month after suspending its Israeli flights following Hamas attacks in October, suspended its flights from Newark to Tel Aviv on Saturday and Sunday after Israel briefly closed its airspace. Jordan and Iraq also closed their airspace.
“We are closely monitoring the situation and will make decisions about upcoming flights with an eye toward the safety of our customers and crews,” United said in a statement. The airline is the only American airline that has resumed its services to Israel since October.
Delta was scheduled to resume flights to Tel Aviv in June. 7. American Airlines has not resumed Israeli service. The airline canceled its flight from Philadelphia to Doha on Saturday, but departure on Sunday was still scheduled.
United also canceled its flights from Washington Dulles International Airport to Amman, Jordan, on Saturday evening and from Newark to Dubai “due to unrest in the Middle East.” However, the flight departing from Dubai remained listed as scheduled on Sunday.
Flight tracking website Flightradar24 said several flights bound for Tel Aviv and Amman were diverted on Saturday.