EASA narrows warning to airlines over flying in Persian Gulf airspace amid renewed US-Iran strikes

The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has tightened its warning for airlines regarding the safety of flying in the Persian Gulf airspace, extending the advisory until September 30. This new directive narrows the scope from an earlier recommendation to avoid the entire airspace of Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, and the UAE. Hours after the US and Iran reinitiated hostilities for the first time since late July, EASA stated that risks remain high but operations necessary for arrivals and departures at airports within the affected Flight Information Regions could proceed with adequate precautions.

Airlines are advised to exercise caution when operating over the land territory of these nations and should also steer clear of the waters of the Gulf of Oman within Oman's Muscat flight information region. EASA lifted its previous recommendation to avoid Jordanian airspace but emphasized that airlines should still exercise caution through September 30.

The agency also extended its previous recommendations to airlines not operating in the airspace of Iran, Iraq, and Lebanon until the conclusion of September. However, EASA permitted flights arriving at or departing from Beirut, the capital of Lebanon, provided the approach begins from the sea or the departure concludes over the sea.