Escalating nationwide protests and heightened security measures across Iran have prompted several international airlines to suspend or cancel flights to the country. Disruptions began late last week and have continued as unrest shows no signs of easing.
Flight cancellations have primarily affected services to Imam Khomeini International Airport in Tehran, with additional impacts at airports in Bandar Abbas, Mashhad, and Shiraz. Flight data indicates that multiple Gulf and European carriers began withdrawing services from Friday onward, and commercial flight activity within Iranian airspace has since dropped sharply.
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 tracking services currently show little to no commercial traffic operating over Iran, reflecting widespread caution among carriers.
Although Iranian airspace has not been formally declared unsafe, airlines are increasingly concerned about the deteriorating security situation on the ground. Protests have spread across multiple cities, accompanied by reports of violence, property damage, and a heavy security response that has drawn international criticism. Human rights groups estimate that dozens of people, including minors, have been killed since the unrest began in late December following economic grievances.
Operational uncertainty has been further intensified by sweeping communication restrictions. Authorities imposed near-total mobile and internet blackouts earlier this month, complicating flight operations and emergency coordination.
UAE-based airlines have been particularly affected. Flydubai canceled all scheduled services to Iranian destinations, while Emirates suspended multiple routes. Etihad Airways has also halted flights to Iran. Qatar Airways suspended services between Doha and Tehran, while Turkish Airlines and its low-cost units AJet and Pegasus Airlines canceled or paused flights to several Iranian cities. Austrian Airlines canceled its Vienna–Tehran service and said it continues to monitor developments closely. Lufthansa, which had already suspended flights earlier due to regional security concerns, is reassessing plans to resume operations.
Domestic flights within Iran continue to operate, though authorities have imposed airspace restrictions near sensitive locations. Active aviation notices indicate heightened defensive measures, and several governments have issued advisories warning airlines of increased operational risks as the situation continues to evolve.
