Singapore Airlines stops using Iranian airspace as ‘precautionary measure’ amid Middle East tensions

SINGAPORE: Singapore Airlines (SIA) said on Sunday (Apr 14) that it has stopped using Iranian airspace, calling it a “precautionary measure” amid the situation in the Middle East. 

The Israel-Hamas war is in danger of escalating into a wider conflict, after Iran launched more than 200 drones and missiles at Israel since Saturday, according to the Israeli military.

This came after Iran vowed retaliation over a presumed Israeli strike on Apr 1, which levelled an Iranian diplomatic building in Syria, killing seven members of the elite Revolutionary Guards including two generals.

In response to CNA’s queries, Singapore Airlines (SIA) said: “As a precautionary measure, with effect from 1300hrs (Singapore time) on Apr 13, 2024, all Singapore Airlines and Scoot flights stopped overflying Iranian air space and used alternative flight paths. 

“We are closely monitoring the situation in the Middle East, and we will adjust our flight paths as needed.”

The move by SIA mirrored that of some other airlines, including German airline Lufthansa and its subsidiary Austrian Airlines. 

On Friday, Lufthansa said that its planes would no longer use Iranian airspace as it extended a suspension on flights to and from Iran’s capital. 

“Due to the current situation, Lufthansa is suspending its flights to and from Tehran up to and including Thursday, Apr 18,” a company spokesperson said.

“The airline is also no longer using Iranian airspace.”

Flights to Tehran have been suspended since Apr 6.

While Lufthansa did not specify the reasons for the suspension, Austrian Airlines said it took the measure due to the “the current situation in the Middle East”.

“For Austrian Airlines, the safety of its passengers and crews has top priority. The situation in the Middle East is being evaluated on an ongoing basis. To this end, Austrian is in close contact with the authorities,” it said.

Meanwhile, Israel and neighbouring Jordan, which lies between Iraq and Israel, said on Saturday night that they were closing their airspace.

Iran had threatened reprisals since the Apr 1 strike in Syria, blaming arch-foe Israel for the attack. 

Israel has stepped up strikes against Iran-linked targets in Syria since the war in the Gaza Strip began last October.