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Fri, 06 Mar 2026

Fri, 06 Mar 2026 Flight paths squeezed as Iran conflict closes more airspace

A drone attack on Azerbaijan has narrowed choices for airlines scrambling to respond to disruption in the Gulf.
Airlines are facing significant disruption as they navigate a narrow corridor across northern Azerbaijan due to the closure of airspace over the southern half of the country. The conflict in the Gulf has already caused severe disruptions, with flights squeezed into this restricted area. Aviation experts say there is now a very limited range of options for airlines trying to operate in these circumstances. Western airlines have been avoiding Russian and Iranian/Iraqi airspace since the invasion of Ukraine in 2022, while Gulf airlines are operating more flights out of the UAE and Oman to evacuate stranded travelers. However, capacity remains well below normal levels. The closure of airspace over Azerbaijan has caused congestion on routes north via the Caucasus and Afghanistan, or south via Egypt/Saudi/Oman. These longer routes have resulted in increased flight times and fuel burn for airlines. Aviation consultant John Strickland warns that passengers may experience extended flight times due to these circuitous routings. Some airlines had begun adapting their routes in recent weeks as tension built in the Gulf, but even more flights are now being forced to switch to southern routes to avoid the conflict zone. Congestion is likely at busy times of day, particularly west to east in the afternoon and evening, or east to west early in the morning. The disruption could have significant economic consequences for airlines, particularly if the conflict persists. Aviation expert David Kaminski warns that a prolonged conflict could leave airlines facing a "huge airspace equivalent of a brick wall" from Saudi Arabia to northern Russia.