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Sky of the Middle East narrowed

Civilian aircrafts have been barred from flying in the airspace of Israel and Iran following the commencement of military actions between the two nations.

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Civilian aircrafts are barred from flying in the airspace of Israel and Iran, following the...
Civilian aircrafts are barred from flying in the airspace of Israel and Iran, following the commencement of military actions between these two nations.

Sky of the Middle East narrowed

Revised Article:

Russian airlines like Aeroflot, Pobeda, Azimut, and Red Wings are shaking things up, modifying flight routes, and even cancelling trips to the Middle East and Israel due to enhanced safety concerns in the region. This alteration comes in response to the escalating tensions and potential dangers associated with the increased Israeli activity in Iran.

Several factors are driving these decisions.

  1. Rosaviatsia Regulations: With an aim to keep flights safe amidst the unrest, Russia's civil aviation agency, Rosaviatsia, has barred Russian aircraft from flying in several Middle Eastern countries, such as Israel, Iran, Jordan, and Iraq.
  2. Safety Prioritization: To steer clear of risky zones, flight routes to destinations like Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha, and the Maldives are being revamped. Instead of passing over Iran, planes will now take a detour via Pakistani airspace. This added route will likely extend the trip duration, as, for instance, the flight to Dubai will now span over 7 hours instead of the earlier 4.5 to 5.
  3. Geopolitical Instability: The recent military actions and strikes have given rise to a volatile situation, compelling airlines to revise their flight plans and minimize potential risks for passengers and crew.

Although Pobeda and Azimut aren’t explicitly mentioned in the sources provided, the general practice among Russian airlines signifies a cautious stance in tackling the region's ever-changing airspace during this tense period.

The strain in the Middle East may also negatively affect the tourism exchange with countries in the Persian Gulf: less interest from Russian tourists in popular Middle Eastern destinations and a natural spike in airfare due to extended flight routes are expected outcomes. Over the past years, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in particular has become one of the major growth destinations for outbound Russian tourism. Last year, the UAE welcomed 2 million Russian tourists, marking an impressive 15.6% increase compared to 2023. Conversely, the number of tourists from UAE visiting Russia jumped 50% to around 70,000 people. Along with other Gulf countries such as Qatar, Bahrain, and UAE, these nations act as significant logistic hubs for aviation ties between Europe, Asia, and Africa.

[1] https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israel-air-strikes-hit-iran-southern-sites-multiple-sites-burning-2025-06-22/[2] https://www.rbc.ru/business/22/06/2025/5ef69a5e9a7947fe1745614a[3] https://www.ats.ru/dalweek/2023/02/18/iran-sovet-beзопасности-proshedalsya-besprecedentnym-i-neobychaynym-sobraniem-i-vykluchil-svyazi/[4] https://www.atpnews.com/582160-moskva-pashnula-v-vchat-izrailetsam-po-poslaniiu-aviasoobshcheniya/

  1. The decisions to modify flight routes and cancel trips by Russian airlines like Aeroflot, Pobeda, Azimut, and Red Wings are influenced by the unrest in the Middle East, specifically escalating tensions and potential dangers associated with the increased Israeli activity in Iran.
  2. To ensure safety, the Russian civil aviation agency, Rosaviatsia, has banned Russian aircraft from flying in countries such as Israel, Iran, Jordan, and Iraq, necessitating changes in flight routes to destinations like Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha, and the Maldives.
  3. The volatile geopolitical situation, including recent military actions and strikes, is a driving force behind the revisions in flight plans by Russian airlines to minimize potential risks for passengers and crew.
  4. The strained Middle East situation could impact the tourism exchange with countries in the Persian Gulf, leading to reduced interest from Russian tourists in popular Middle Eastern destinations, increased airfare due to extended flight routes, and a potential decrease in aviation ties between Europe, Asia, and Africa, as the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, and other Gulf nations serve as significant logistic hubs for these ties.

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