Ceasefire reopens some Gulf airspace, but airlines are not rushing back

A temporary ceasefire between the United States and Iran has led to a partial reopening of Middle East airspace, but airlines are not rushing to resume normal routes as security risks persist.

Civil aviation authorities in Iraq, Syria and Bahrain have reopened their airspace following the truce, restoring limited operations across a key Europe–Asia corridor, according to Anadolu Ajansı. However, flight activity remains subdued and uneven across the region.

Partial reopening restores key transit routes

Iraq has resumed operations at Baghdad International Airport and reopened its airspace to overflights, marking a significant development for global aviation. As AirlineRatings reported, Iraqi airspace lies along the shortest route between Europe and Asia, and its reopening could reduce detours and lower fuel costs if sustained.

Bahrain has also reopened its airspace, with authorities stating that operations will continue under strict safety and security oversight. Syria similarly reopened its skies, with Damascus International Airport described as “returning to normal”, according to Anadolu Ajansı.

Despite these steps, real-time tracking data suggests limited recovery. FlightRadar24 showed little to no traffic over Syria and only sparse movement across Iraqi and Bahraini airspace at the time of reporting.

Airlines avoid a full return

Airlines remain cautious due to the fragile nature of the ceasefire, which is expected to last only two weeks and could be disrupted by ongoing regional tensions.

Security concerns—including missile and drone risks—continue to deter carriers from resuming standard routes. As a result, most international airlines are maintaining alternative flight paths.

FlightRadar24 data shows aircraft continuing to operate primarily within designated “safe corridors”, rather than fully utilising reopened airspace.

Detours continue despite reopening

According to OpsGroup, airlines have relied on two main rerouting strategies since the conflict began.

The northern “Caucasus corridor” diverts flights through Türkiye, the Caspian region and Central Asia, avoiding Gulf airspace entirely. The southern “Arabian Sea corridor” routes aircraft via Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Oman.

Both options add between one and two hours of flight time, increasing fuel burn and operational costs. Even so, airlines have continued to favour these routes due to lower perceived risk.

Restricted operations across Gulf hubs

Airspace across major Gulf hubs remains tightly controlled. OpsGroup reported that operations are largely limited to local carriers and approved flights using security-managed corridors.

The United Arab Emirates has kept its airspace open only through restricted routes under emergency air traffic control, while Qatar is allowing limited operations, primarily for Qatar Airways.

Most international carriers have suspended regular services to these hubs, reflecting broader industry caution.

Regulatory warnings reinforce caution

Regulators have also advised airlines to avoid large parts of the region. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has issued guidance discouraging operations across multiple Middle Eastern airspaces, including Iran, Iraq and the Gulf states, with limited exceptions under strict conditions.

These include operations over parts of Oman and Saudi Arabia at specific altitudes and only with updated risk assessments.

Uncertainty keeps airlines on edge

The limited ceasefire has done little to restore confidence across the aviation sector. Risks remain fluid, and the possibility of escalation continues to shape airline decisions.

While the reopening of Iraqi airspace could eventually ease pressure on flight times and fuel costs, carriers are adopting a wait-and-watch approach.

For now, global aviation continues to prioritise safety over efficiency, with longer routes and higher costs likely to persist until a more stable regional settlement emerges.