With the continued war in Ukraine, Russian airspace restrictions, and now a second conflict with Israel in the Middle East, global travel disruptions are rapidly increasing.
If you're looking to book travel or sign up for a new credit card, click here. Both support his LiveAndLetsFly.com.
If you don't follow us on Facebook or Instagram, add us now.
Iran retaliates against Israel
Yesterday, Iran fired an estimated 300 drones and missiles at Israel. Many of the drones were shot down by US and British warplanes over Syrian airspace. Israel reported that Iron Dome shot down most of the Iranian weapons, resulting in one injury (a girl) and no casualties. US President Joe Biden cut short his beach vacation and returned to the White House to consider attacking Iran with his national security team.
“We have decided to create a new formula in which from now on, if the Zionist regime attacks our interests, assets, character, or people, we will retaliate anytime and anywhere,'' said Commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps. Hossein Salami of the IRGC told Iranian state television.
“The Honest Promise operation is a striking and very clear example of this new equation,” Salami added. – CNN
Iran cited Article 51 of its agreement with the United Nations as justification for the attack. Iran was responding to the attack on the Iranian embassy in Syria on April 1st.
“On Monday, an aircraft believed to be an Israeli fighter bombed the Iranian embassy in Syria, killing seven military advisers, including three senior commanders, and Iran announced that it had bombed the Iranian embassy in Syria, killing seven military advisers, including three senior commanders, and threatening Israel's war with regional adversaries. ” – Reuters
Iran announced at the end of the onslaught that the matter was over, but it is unclear whether the Israeli military will respond. US intelligence sources signaled US commitment to Israel's security. War continues in Gaza, and the conflict between Israel and Iran will only add further tension to both Israel and the region. There was a diplomatic response from regional powers such as Egypt, calling for restraint.
Middle East flight disruption
Several countries (Jordan, Iraq, Lebanon) closed their airspace due to conflict but have since tentatively reopened it.
“Jordan and Lebanon have previously reported large-scale GPS jamming over their respective territories, and the Jordanian Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (TRC) has issued , called on the “two neighboring countries” to stop the act. Jordan borders Israel and Saudi Arabia, as well as Syria and Iraq, both of which are home to various Iranian proxies. ” – CH Aviation
Kuwait Airways has avoided the conflict area, and airlines that have chosen to continue flying in the area in the wake of the closure, such as Swiss Air, have added refueling stops in case of unexpected routes.
At one point, the following closures were in place: Many of these are left for flights from Western countries.
Add to existing complications
The ongoing war in Ukraine and sanctions against Russia have made movement from the West to the East difficult. Narrow windows in Armenia and Georgia allow airlines to head to Asia. Until last week, not all airlines were avoiding Iraqi and Iranian airspace, but from now on, full-fledged circumnavigation will be required to complete the eastward leg.
The Israeli-Iranian conflict may end with this latest salvo, but otherwise complex issues will continue to meaningfully impact global travel and global trade.
conclusion
Israel and its allies could find themselves in a two-front war depending on the next actions between the two parties. As global tensions rise, we must not let things escalate any further. The protracted war in Ukraine and the fighting in Gaza have made this action even more impactful. Let's hope this ends the conflict without assigning blame or cause.
What do you think?
