Cargo ops suffer amid closed airspace over Israel, Iran

Commercial air traffic over Israel and Iran has been grounded as the countries continue to attack one another in an escalating conflict that has made an already precarious situation in the Middle East more hazardous and disruptive to the supply chain.

Israeli and Iranian airspaces have been closed since June 13, also inhibiting air traffic over the countries that lie between them. This not only affects flights to and from the region, but flights that previously flew through the region.

[caption id="attachment_57289653" align="aligncenter" width="1591"] El Al has one 737-800BCF that it added in 2023. (Courtesy/El Al)[/caption] “Some routes to Asia might need replanning, resulting here and there in some longer flight times, [which] has potential to impact allowable payload,” Air France KLM Martinair Cargo told Cargo Facts .

Canceled flights Many airlines have announced flight cancellations for cargo and passenger aircraft as they monitor the situation.

Though the airspace is closed and Tel Aviv (TLV) is closed to commercial aviation, various flight-tracking websites, such as FlightRadar24, are showing commercial airplanes flying to and from TLV and flying in Iranian airspace.

Cargolux put out a statement on social media denying that it is flying in Iranian airspace.

“We are aware of the recent information/statements circulating on social media regarding recent Cargolux flights alleged to be using Iranian airspace, based on the data received on a publicly available app,” the carrier said. “Cargolux would like to categorically state that none of its flights utilize Iranian airspace.

“Other airlines may similarly be impacted by the incorrect data being shown on such [a] publicly available application,” the carrier said. “Cargolux operates with state-of-the-art technology systems, similar to those used by all major airlines, ensuring that we know the exact position of our aircraft at all times. Our flight tracking systems provide real-time data, which confirms that no flight entered Iranian airspace. Any claims to the contrary are completely unfounded.”

El Al Israel’s national airline, El Al , and subsidiary Sundor have canceled flights through June 30.

As soon as Israeli airspace reopens, El Al will immediately restart cargo operations, the airline told Cargo Facts . El Al operates one freighter, a 737-800BCF (33004), which is still flying to and from TLV, according to FlightRadar24.

Emirates Emirates and its cargo arm, Emirates SkyCargo , have suspended all flights to Amman, Jordan (AMM), and Beirut (BEY), through June 22. Flights to Tehran, Iran (IKA), Baghdad (BGW) and Basra (BSR), Iraq, have been canceled through June 30.

The United Arab Emirates-based airline ceased flying to TLV in November 2023, as the Israel-Hamas war stretched into its second month. That war is ongoing.

Etihad Etihad Airways , also based in the UAE, has canceled all flights between Abu Dhabi (AUH) and TLV until June 22.

The airline has experienced disruption to flights across the region, leading to delays, Etihad told Cargo Facts . Additionally, Etihad is rerouting several flights to avoid restricted airspace in parts of the Middle East, the carrier said.

Air France-KLM Air France-KLM has suspended flights to and from TLV and BEY until further notice, the carrier told Cargo Facts .

Despite the need to replan some routes, the carrier seen minimal impact on its cargo operations, Air France-KLM said.

Challenge Airlines Challenge Airlines IL, the Israel-based air cargo arm of Challenge Group , will immediately resume operations out of TLV when Israeli authorities reopen the airspace, the carrier told Cargo Facts .

However, Challenge Airlines IL’s 767-300BDSF (28207) and one of its 747-400Fs (35172) appear to still be flying to and from TLV, according to Flightradar24.

In the meantime, the rest of the group’s network is “operating as usual, connecting the Far East with the U.S.” through its hub in Liege (LGG), Challenge Group said.

Delta Air Lines Delta Air Lines has suspended flights to TLV through Aug. 31.

DHL DHL has not issued any service announcements relating to the Israel-Iran conflict but told Cargo Facts that it is “closely monitoring the situation in the region and adjusting [its] operations as needed.”

FedEx FedEx has suspended all flights to and from Israel until further notice, the integrator told Cargo Facts on June 13.

Lufthansa Lufthansa Group has suspended flights to TLV and IKA through July 31, and suspended flights to AMM, BEY and Erbil, Iraq (EBL), through June 20.

Lufthansa Cargo , the cargo arm of Lufthansa Group, is not accepting bookings or shipments to the above-mentioned airports until further notice, the carrier told Cargo Facts .

United Airlines United Airlines has suspended flights to TLV until further notice and, prior to the airspace closing, booked seats on El Al flights for twenty-six crewmembers on layover in Israel.

Cargo ops suffer amid closed airspace over Israel, Iran

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