Escalating protests and intensified security measures across Iran have led several international airlines to suspend or cancel flights to the country, with disruptions beginning late last week and continuing as unrest shows no signs of easing.
Flight cancellations have largely affected services to Imam Khomeini International Airport, Tehran, while other airports impacted include Bandar Abbas International Airport, Mashhad International Airport and Shiraz International Airport. According to FlightAware, multiple Gulf and European carriers began withdrawing services from Friday onward.
Airlines including Emirates, flydubai and Qatar Airways were among the first to cancel flights, followed by European operators such as Austrian Airlines and Turkish Airlines. Flight Radar currently indicate an absence of commercial flight activity within Iranian airspace, reflecting widespread operational caution.
While there has been no formal declaration that Iranian airspace is unsafe, airlines are reportedly concerned about the deteriorating situation on the ground. Cities across Iran have witnessed sustained protests, episodes of violence and property damage, alongside a heavy security response that has drawn international criticism. Human rights organisations estimate that dozens of people, including minors, have been killed since unrest began on December 28, initially triggered by economic grievances.
The situation has been compounded by sweeping communication restrictions, with authorities imposing near-total mobile and internet blackouts from January 8, further heightening operational and safety uncertainties for carriers.
UAE-based airlines have been significantly affected. Flydubai cancelled all scheduled services to Iranian cities on January 9, including Tehran, Shiraz, Mashhad and Bandar Abbas. Emirates has suspended multiple services to Tehran and other destinations, while Etihad Airways has also halted flights to Iran.
Similarly, Qatar Airways suspended flights between Doha and Tehran. Turkish Airlines, along with its low-cost units AJet and Pegasus Airlines, cancelled or suspended several services to Iranian cities including Tehran, Tabriz, Mashhad, Isfahan and Shiraz. Austrian Airlines cancelled its Vienna–Tehran service scheduled for January 9 and said it continues to closely monitor developments. Lufthansa, which had earlier suspended its Tehran route due to regional security concerns, is reassessing plans to resume operations later this month.
Domestic air services within Iran continue to operate. Iran’s Civil Aviation Organization has, however, imposed airspace restrictions near sensitive locations, while a series of active Notices to Air Missions (NOTAMs) point to heightened defensive measures in several parts of the country. Several governments have also issued advisories warning airlines of increased operational risks amid the evolving security situation.