Airspace reopened allowing flights throughout the Middle East to resume on Sunday, but dozens of others were canceled after Iran attacked Israel with drones and missiles overnight after a suspected Israeli strike in Syria earlier this month that killed several top Iranian officials.
Israel’s El Al canceled more than 20 Sunday flights, though some were still operating. Two El Al flights headed for Israel from Thailand on Saturday had diverted to Bangkok. The carrier told passengers not to come to the Tel Aviv airport until notified.
Emirates Airline canceled one of its Dubai-Amman flights which was scheduled for Sunday, but flew two others. Air France and British Airways canceled Tel Aviv flights on Sunday. British Airways also scrubbed a flight to Amman.
Lufthansa canceled its service to and from Tel Aviv, Erbil, Iraq and Amman through Monday and plans to resume service on Tuesday, though its Beruit and Tehran flights are suspended until at least Thursday, it said.
Some flights avoided large swaths of airspace in the Middle East, reroutes that delayed some planes, Swiss International Airlines said.
The reroutes are the latest challenge for airlines that in recent years have had to change flight plans in the wake of Russia’s attack on Ukraine, which can add to flight time and fuel costs.