Egypt has issued a notice instructing all its airlines to avoid Iranian airspace for a three-hour period in the early morning on Thursday. The Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) was provided to pilots on Wednesday, specifying that the restriction would be in effect from 0100 to 0400 GMT. The reason for this directive was not elaborated upon in the notice.
The NOTAM stated, 'All Egyptian carriers shall avoid overflying Tehran (Flight Information Region). No flight plan will be accepted overflying such territory' during the specified three-hour period. Egypt's civil aviation ministry later confirmed that the notice was issued to mitigate flight-safety risks based on information received from Iranian authorities.
According to the ministry, Iranian authorities notified them of military exercises scheduled to take place over Iranian airspace on August 7 from 11:30 to 14:30 and on August 8 from 4:30 to 7:30 Tehran time. This prompted the precautionary measure taken by Egypt.
Following the issuance of the notice, many airlines are adjusting their flight schedules to avoid Iranian and Lebanese airspace. Concerns about a potential escalation in conflict have risen after the recent killings of senior members of militant groups Hamas and Hezbollah, leading to flight cancellations to Israel and Lebanon.
OPSGROUP, an organization that shares flight-risk information, commented on the situation, stating that Egypt's NOTAM is highly unusual and could indicate a potential Iranian response to Israel. The organization also highlighted the possibility of broader airspace disruptions in the region.
Earlier this year, Jordanian authorities mandated that all airlines landing at their airports carry an additional 45 minutes' worth of fuel. This move comes as countries in the region, including Jordan, have previously closed their airspace in response to aerial attacks on Israel.
