UPDATED: Dublin’s second Abu Dhabi flight returns today as recovery continues & more airspace reopens

Kuwait has reopened its FIR after full closure since 28 February with limited operations via Saudi airspace.
Iran has allowed overflights in the eastern Tehran FIR above FL285 under strict procedures.
Iraq Syria and Bahrain have reopened their airspace following the April ceasefire.
EASA has extended its avoidance advisory for 11 specified Middle East airspaces until 1 May 2026.
Qatar has resumed operations with fixed entry and exit points while full normal capacity has not returned.

Airlines have observed gradual reopenings in parts of Middle Eastern airspace while some areas have remained closed or heavily restricted following the escalation that began on 28 February 2026. Kuwait has reopened its airspace and has resumed limited operations, primarily routed via Saudi Arabia, after nearly two months of full closure. Iran has partly reopened the eastern section of the Tehran FIR for overflights above flight level 285 under strict procedures with reduced air traffic control capacity and larger separation minima, although the western part has stayed closed for transit. Bahrain, Syria, Iraq and Israel have also reopened their airspace in phased approaches since early April, and carriers such as Emirates, flydubai and Air Arabia have re-established services to destinations including Doha as Qatar has progressed a phased restoration.

Around 11 countries across the Middle East and Persian Gulf region have experienced airspace closures or severe restrictions at various stages, including Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Oman and Saudi Arabia. Some of these have now moved to partial or full reopening with capacity constraints, while others continue to impose routing limitations, altitude restrictions or security-related procedures. Airlines have rerouted long-haul services via southern corridors through Oman or northern paths over Turkey, the Caucasus and Central Asia, which has added flight time and fuel costs. Reopening prospects in the Middle East have remained cautious and incremental, with no confirmed timeline for restoration of full central corridor capacity; authorities have continued to monitor the extended ceasefire and have adjusted operations on a day-to-day basis depending on security assessments and air traffic availability.

The European Union Aviation Safety Agency has extended its Conflict Zone Information Bulletin advising European airlines to avoid large parts of Middle Eastern airspace, with the current version valid until 5 May 2026 unless reviewed earlier. The recommendation has covered the FIRs of Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia at all altitudes, with limited exceptions for southern Saudi Arabia and Oman above certain flight levels. No major lifting of the EASA advisory has taken place, and European carriers have continued to operate elongated routings or suspensions on affected routes while they await further updates from the agency and national authorities.

The situation has evolved with phased reopenings in Kuwait and eastern Iran alongside continued restrictions elsewhere, and EASA has maintained its safety advisory for European operators until at least early May.

The cur rent EASA advisory impacts all altitudes/flight levels in the airspace of: Bahrain (Bahrain FIR – OBBB), Iran (Tehran FIR – OIIX), Iraq (Baghdad FIR – ORBB), Israel (Tel Aviv FIR – LLLL), Jordan (Amman FIR – OJAC), Kuwait (Kuwait FIR – OKAC), Lebanon (Beirut FIR – OLBB), Oman (Muscat FIR – OOMM), Qatar (Doha FIR – OTDF), United Arab Emirates (Emirates FIR – OMAE) and Saudi Arabia (FIR Jeddah – OEJD).

EASA shared “air operators should not operate within the affected airspace at all flight levels and altitudes with the exception specified“.

OPSGROUP shared “Kuwait has reopened its airspace and resumed limited operations after nearly two months of closure while Iran has restarted some international flights”.