The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has recommended that European airlines do not fly through Iranian airspace due to “heightened” tensions in the region.
EASA issued the CZIB (Conflict Zone Information Bulletin) warning to airlines on Friday (16 January) following wide-scale public protests in Iran and possible intervention by the US.
The move comes after Lufthansa Group last week suspended flights to Tehran and is also reported to be avoiding Iranian and Iraqi airspace.
“Given the ongoing situation and the potential for US military action, which has placed Iranian air defence forces on a heightened state of alert, there is currently an increased likelihood of misidentification within the FIR Tehran [Iranian airspace],” said EASA in its warning.
“The presence and possible use of a wide range of weapons and air-defence systems, combined with unpredictable state responses and the potential activation of SAM [surface-to-air missile] systems, creates a high risk to civil flights operating at all altitudes and flight levels.”
EASA said it would “continue to closely monitor the situation”, alongside the European Commission and member states, to “assess whether there is an increase or decrease of the risk for EU aircraft operators due to the evolution of the threat and risk situation”.