Airlines Avoid Iraqi-Iranian Airspace

Airlines are beginning to avoid flying in Iraqi and Iranian airspace. The move comes as tension sin the Middle East rise following a US air strike earlierthismonth. Earlier, the Federal Aviation Administration( FAA) had banned US carriers from operating in the region. Earlier on Wednesday there was the tragic los sofa Ukraine International Airlines Boeing 737. This was accompanied by a warning from the Federal Aviation Administration, banning US aircraft and crew from flying in the Iran and Iraq areas, with a few exceptions. Although not all the airlines have been banned from the area, many are choosing to avoid it. This includes major European carriers such as Air France and British Airways. Aircraft have been opting to fly around the affected area, however, in some instances flights have diverted as fuel for such a de tour has not been sufficient. Qantas will need to adda stop to the world’ s third-longest flight due to the necessary de tour. Two flights that had been diverted were British Airways’ Boeing 777 and Boeing 747 services to Dubai, BA 105 and BA 109. These flights made a U-turn to divert to Istanbul just prior to entering Iraqi air space. Meanwhile, British Airways flight 157 to Kuwait took a major detour around the affected airspace. Additionally, BA134 from Mumbai to London made a dramatic U-turn, just skimming Iraqi airspace. It then diverted around the area, landing in Athens for additional fuel. As is the case with these types off light restrictions, certain flight operations in the area have been suspended. One such carrier suspending services is German flag carrier Lufthansa. The airline had suspended its daily service to Tehran until further notice.