Overview
- EASA issued a high‑risk Conflict Zone Information Bulletin directing airlines under its oversight to avoid airspace over Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and the western Gulf of Oman.
- The guidance applies to EASA‑regulated carriers and to foreign operators flying to, from or within the EU under EASA authorization and functions as precautionary safety guidance rather than a legal airspace closure.
- Airlines must reroute many Europe‑Asia services, which will lengthen flight times, raise fuel burn and increase operating costs for carriers that rely on Gulf hubs such as Emirates, Qatar Airways and Etihad and for European carriers with Gulf routings.
- The advisory follows a sharp security spike after Iranian missile strikes on a US base in Jordan and subsequent US military responses, which EASA said increased the danger from missiles, drones, interceptions and falling debris.
- The warning is time‑limited through late July and subject to change if military activity or national aviation authorities alter risk assessments, a development that markets and passengers are monitoring for broader disruptions.