Which airlines still fly over Iran and Yemen?

Despite the threats, some airlines continue to schedule flights through the airspaces of Iran, Iraq, and Yemen—regions with significant risks of missile fire and terrorist attacks.

A considerable number of airlines continue operating over Iran, Iraq, and Yemen, a Maariv investigation revealed, while most Western and North American airlines consistently avoid flying in these regions due to fears of aircraft being targeted.

Airlines from the Middle East, Russia, and even parts of Asia and Europe still follow regular routes there. Some do so by using what is known as “high altitude flights,” i.e., flying above 32,000 feet, hoping this reduces the risk of being hit by missiles.

One of the main reasons countries like Israel, the US, Germany, and the UK prohibit flying over Iran is not just the immediate threat of a missile strike, but also the broader strategic risk of security escalation in the region. Iran’s nuclear program and the potential for increased tensions leading to military action or Iranian retaliation make Iranian airspace particularly volatile.

In such a scenario, a civilian aircraft flying through Iranian airspace could find itself in an active conflict zone or be mistakenly targeted by missile systems. Furthermore, any emergency landing in Iran—whether due to a medical issue or a technical malfunction—could expose the aircraft, crew, and especially Israeli, American, or European passengers to serious risks, including arrest, interrogation, or even political extortion.

In recent years, several incidents have shown how emergency landings in hostile countries can spark crises. A notable example was the Ryanair plane forced to land in Belarus, which was then used as a tool by the regime. In Iran itself, foreign nationals have previously been held as bargaining chips. The threat in such cases is not only operational but also political. One chilling example for Israelis is the opening episode of the series Tehran, where two Israelis are forced into an emergency landing in Tehran and are subsequently interrogated under threats and torture.

Who’s flying over Iran?

Iranian airspace, known as the Tehran FIR (Flight Information Region), has been considered particularly dangerous since the Iranian missile downing of a Ukrainian passenger plane in January 2020.

Despite this, several airlines from the Middle East, Asia, and even Eastern Europe continue to fly over Iran daily. Emirates and flydubai operate direct flights to Tehran from the south. Qatar Airways has resumed routing flights through Iraq and Iran, including flights to Kathmandu, Delhi, and Kuala Lumpur.

Flights crossing Iran are primarily those traveling between Western Europe and South Asia or the Far East. Notable routes include:

Route B411 – Crosses Iran from the northwest (bordering Turkey) to the southeast, through Tehran, Yazd, and Kerman.

Route L124 – Crosses central Iran in the Zahedan area, continuing to Pakistan, Oman, or India.

These routes are significantly shorter than detours via the Gulf, Caucasus, or Saudi Arabia.

Which airlines are using Iranian airspace?

Emirates

flydubai

Qatar Airways

Turkish Airlines

Pegasus Airlines

Aeroflot

Uzbekistan Airways

Air Serbia

Jazeera Airways

Air Arabia

Kam Air (Afghanistan)

Mahan Air (Iran)

Syrian Air

Which airlines completely avoid Iran?

Lufthansa, SWISS, Austrian Airlines

British Airways

KLM

Air France

Iberia

Finnair

Scandinavian Airlines (SAS)

Virgin Atlantic

American Airlines

United Airlines

Delta Air Lines

Israeli airlines (El Al, Israir, Arkia, Haifa Air) – also don’t fly over Iran, Iraq, or Yemen

Yemen: A clear red line

Most international aviation authorities define Yemeni airspace as completely off-limits. The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), under regulation SFAR 115, imposes a total ban on flying over Yemen. European countries such as the UK, Germany, and France also call for complete avoidance.

Yemen is in the midst of a military conflict, and the Houthi terrorist organization continues to launch advanced missiles, including toward Israel. Virtually no commercial airlines fly over Yemen, except for rare routes far offshore above the Red Sea.

In some cases, regulators allow flights over Iraq or even Iran—but only at very high altitudes, usually above FL320 (32,000 feet). This is considered out of reach for shoulder-fired missiles and basic air defense systems. However, it does not protect against ballistic missiles or advanced air defense systems, as past incidents have shown.

As expected, Israeli airlines—El Al, Israir, Arkia, and Haifa Air—do not fly over any hostile countries. Even on flights to the far east, they route via Cyprus, Turkey, Georgia, or Azerbaijan, bypassing Iran and Iraq entirely. Since they are not permitted to land in enemy states, any risk of technical failure necessitates complete avoidance of those areas.

Bottom line: Most major global airlines, as noted, do avoid flying over Iran, Yemen, and Iraq. That said, if you’re concerned, it’s worth checking the airline’s website to review the planned route before booking your flight.