UAE-Iran Airspace Restrictions Affect Regional Flights
The United Arab Emirates has reportedly suspended Iranian airlines from operating flights to and from the country as part of measures related to U.S. sanctions on Iranian carriers, prompting Iran to impose reciprocal restrictions on UAE-linked air traffic. The UAE’s civil aviation authority announced that flights by Iranian airlines would be suspended from September 24 until further notice.
Following Iran’s restrictions on UAE-linked flights through its airspace, services between Dubai and Baku have also experienced route changes. The Baku-Dubai flight time is now reported to be around four hours, compared with approximately three hours and 10 minutes when more direct routings through Iranian airspace were available.
Meanwhile, Iran cancelled Tehran-Baghdad services and decided to redirect flights to Najaf after Baghdad Airport stopped accepting flights from Iran. Restrictions have also affected air traffic between Iran and Turkmenistan, while a Tehran-Dushanbe flight reportedly returned to Tehran after being denied permission to transit the relevant airspace.
The developments could affect not only Iranian airlines operating to the UAE but also regional air corridors used by other commercial flights. However, Iranian and UAE authorities have yet to issue detailed statements confirming a comprehensive airspace ban covering all UAE-linked flights.
