EASA narrows airline warning over Persian Gulf airspace as US-Iran fighting resumes

The European Union Aviation Safety Agency has narrowed, but not withdrawn, its warning to airlines operating around the Persian Gulf after the United States and Iran resumed hostilities.

Until September 30, EASA advises airlines to avoid the waters of the Persian Gulf within the flight information regions of Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. Its earlier recommendation covered the countries’ entire airspace. The agency said essential flights arriving at or departing from airports in the affected regions may continue if operators apply sufficient risk mitigation.

EASA also urged caution over the land territory of Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and the UAE. It advised airlines not to operate over the Gulf of Oman within Oman’s Muscat flight information region.

The agency lifted its previous recommendation to avoid Jordanian airspace, although it continued to advise caution there through September 30. It separately extended its recommendation against operating in the airspace of Iran, Iraq and Lebanon.

Flights to and from Beirut remain possible under a limited condition: an approach must begin from the sea, or a departure must end over the sea. The revised guidance came hours after Washington and Tehran resumed military action for the first time since late July.

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While risks over the waters of the Persian Gulf remain high, operations necessary for arrivals at or departures from aerodromes within the affected Flight Information Regions may be conducted with sufficient mitigation.