In the early hours of 8 January 2020 local time, Iran launched missiles into Iraq over the busy commercial corridor in eastern Iraq. In response, some flights have diverted around Iraqi airspace and the US Federal Aviation Administration has issued NOTAMs prohibited US civil aviation from operating in Iraq, Iran, and over the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman.

This post will be updated as necessary.

Track live flights in Iraq and Iran

Reroutes and diversions

Update — 8 Jan | 12:00 UTC — Most European airlines have rerouted flights around Iran and Iraq. Examples of the new flight paths can be seen in the image below.

A few carriers are rerouting their flights today to avoid either Iraq or Iran. Scoot 734 normally flies from Singapore to Berlin through Iran. Kuwait Airways 103 generally transits Iraqi airspace en route to London. And British Airways is diverting two flights to Istanbul and rerouting two around Iraqi airspace.

Relevant NOTAMs and recommendations for civilian air traffic in Iraq and Iran

The US Federal Aviation Administration issued NOTAMs prohibiting US civilian aviation from operating in Iraq, Iran, the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman following the launch of Iranian missiles on 8 January 2020 (local time). These new prohibitions have little practical effect on US carriers, nearly all of whom already avoid this airspace. However, the impact could be significant if other countries issue similar NOTAMs for their air carriers or especially if other airlines decide to reroute around Iraq and Iran regardless of NOTAM.

Update 3 — 10 January The US FAA has issued a clarifying NOTAM regarding US airlines and the airspace over the Persian Gulf. The new NOTAM (in full below) relaxes and clarifies some restrictions on operations in that airspace.

Update 2 — 9 January Both France and the UK have issued relevant NOTAMs regarding airspace in the region.

Update — 8 January | 18:55 UTC On 8 January, the European Aviation Safety Agency issued a recommendation to European airlines to avoid overflight of Iraqi airspace. This is not a formal prohibition like the US FAA. Prior to EASA’s recommendation, nearly all flights by European airlines had already begun avoiding Iraqi airspace.

FAA NOTAM regarding Iraqi airspace

A0001/20 (Issued for KICZ PART 1 OF 2) – SECURITY..UNITED STATES OF AMERICA PROHIBITION AGAINST CERTAIN FLIGHTS IN THE BAGHDAD FLIGHT INFORMATION REGION (FIR) (ORBB). THOSE PERSONS DESCRIBED IN PARAGRAPH A (APPLICABLITY) BELOW ARE PROHIBITED FROM OPERATING IN THE BAGHDAD FLIGHT INFORMATION REGION (FIR) (ORBB) DUE TO HEIGHTENED MILITARY ACTIVITIES AND INCREASED POLITICAL TENSIONS IN THE MIDDLE EAST, WHICH PRESENT AN INADVERTENT RISK TO U.S. CIVIL AVIATION OPERATIONS DUE TO THE POTENTIAL FOR MISCALCULATION OR MIS-IDENTIFICATION. A. APPLICABILITY. THIS NOTAM APPLIES TO: ALL U.S. AIR CARRIERS AND COMMERCIAL OPERATORS; ALL PERSONS EXERCISING THE PRIVILEGES OF AN AIRMAN CERTIFICATE ISSUED BY THE FAA, EXCEPT SUCH PERSONS OPERATING U.S.-REGISTERED AIRCRAFT FOR A FOREIGN AIR CARRIER; AND ALL OPERATORS OF AIRCRAFT REGISTERED IN THE UNITED STATES, EXCEPT WHERE THE OPERATOR OF SUCH AIRCRAFT IS A FOREIGN AIR CARRIER. B. PERMITTED OPERATIONS. THIS NOTAM DOES NOT PROHIBIT PERSONS DESCRIBED IN PARAGRAPH A (APPLICABILITY) FROM CONDUCTING FLIGHT OPERATIONS IN THE BAGHDAD FIR (ORBB) WHEN SUCH OPERATIONS ARE AUTHORIZED EITHER BY ANOTHER AGENCY OF THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT END PART 1 OF 2. 07 JAN 23:45 2020 UNTIL PERM. CREATED: 07 JAN 23:49 2020

A0001/20 (Issued for KICZ PART 2 OF 2) – WITH THE APPROVAL OF THE FAA OR BY A DEVIATION, EXEMPTION, OR OTHER AUTHORIZATION ISSUED BY THE FAA ADMINISTRATOR. OPERATORS MUST CALL THE FAA WASHINGTON OPERATIONS CENTER AT 202-267-3333 TO INITIATE COORDINATION FOR FAA AUTHORIZATION TO CONDUCT OPERATIONS. C. EMERGENCY SITUATIONS. IN AN EMERGENCY THAT REQUIRES IMMEDIATE DECISION AND ACTION FOR THE SAFETY OF THE FLIGHT, THE PILOT IN COMMAND OF AN AIRCRAFT MAY DEVIATE FROM THIS NOTAM TO THE EXTENT REQUIRED BY THAT EMERGENCY. THIS NOTAM IS AN EMERGENCY ORDER ISSUED UNDER 49 USC 40113(A), 44701(A)(5), AND 46105(C). ADDITIONAL INFORMATION IS PROVIDED AT: HTTPS://WWW.FAA.GOV/AIR_TRAFFIC/PUBLICATIONS/US_RESTRICTIONS/. SFC – UNL END PART 2 OF 2, 07 JAN 23:45 2020 UNTIL PERM. CREATED: 07 JAN 23:49 2020US FAA

FAA NOTAM regarding Iranian airspace

A0002/20 (Issued for KICZ PART 1 OF 2) – SECURITY..UNITED STATES OF AMERICA PROHIBITION AGAINST CERTAIN FLIGHTS IN THE TEHRAN FLIGHT INFORMATION REGION (FIR) (OIIX). THOSE PERSONS DESCRIBED IN PARAGRAPH A (APPLICABLITY) BELOW ARE PROHIBITED FROM OPERATING IN THE TEHRAN FLIGHT INFORMATION REGION (FIR) (OIIX) DUE TO HEIGHTENED MILITARY ACTIVITIES AND INCREASED POLITICAL TENSIONS IN THE MIDDLE EAST, WHICH PRESENT AN INADVERTENT RISK TO U.S. CIVIL AVIATION OPERATIONS DUE TO THE POTENTIAL FOR MISCALCULATION OR MIS-IDENTIFICATION. A. APPLICABILITY. THIS NOTAM APPLIES TO: ALL U.S. AIR CARRIERS AND COMMERCIAL OPERATORS; ALL PERSONS EXERCISING THE PRIVILEGES OF AN AIRMAN CERTIFICATE ISSUED BY THE FAA, EXCEPT SUCH PERSONS OPERATING U.S.-REGISTERED AIRCRAFT FOR A FOREIGN AIR CARRIER; AND ALL OPERATORS OF AIRCRAFT REGISTERED IN THE UNITED STATES, EXCEPT WHERE THE OPERATOR OF SUCH AIRCRAFT IS A FOREIGN AIR CARRIER. B. PERMITTED OPERATIONS. THIS NOTAM DOES NOT PROHIBIT PERSONS DESCRIBED IN PARAGRAPH A (APPLICABILITY) FROM CONDUCTING FLIGHT OPERATIONS IN THE ABOVE-NAMED AREA WHEN SUCH OPERATIONS ARE AUTHORIZED EITHER BY ANOTHER AGENCY OF THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT END PART 1 OF 2. 08 JAN 00:10 2020 UNTIL PERM. CREATED: 08 JAN 00:07 2020

 

A0002/20 (Issued for KICZ PART 2 OF 2) – WITH THE APPROVAL OF THE FAA OR BY A DEVIATION, EXEMPTION, OR OTHER AUTHORIZATION ISSUED BY THE FAA ADMINISTRATOR. OPERATORS MUST CALL THE FAA WASHINGTON OPERATIONS CENTER AT 202-267-3333 TO INITIATE COORDINATION FOR FAA AUTHORIZATION TO CONDUCT OPERATIONS. C. EMERGENCY SITUATIONS. IN AN EMERGENCY THAT REQUIRES IMMEDIATE DECISION AND ACTION FOR THE SAFETY OF THE FLIGHT, THE PILOT IN COMMAND OF AN AIRCRAFT MAY DEVIATE FROM THIS NOTAM TO THE EXTENT REQUIRED BY THAT EMERGENCY. THIS NOTAM IS AN EMERGENCY ORDER ISSUED UNDER 49 USC 40113(A), 44701(A)(5), AND 46105(C). ADDITIONAL INFORMATION IS PROVIDED AT: HTTP://WWW.FAA.GOV/AIR_TRAFFIC/PUBLICATIONS/US_RESTRICTIONS/. SFC – UNL END PART 2 OF 2, 08 JAN 00:10 2020 UNTIL PERM. CREATED: 08 JAN 00:07 2020US FAA

FAA NOTAM regarding Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman

A0008/20 (Issued for KICZ PART 1 OF 3) – SECURITY..UNITED STATES OF AMERICA PROHIBITION AGAINST CERTAIN FLIGHTS IN THE OVERWATER AIRSPACE ABOVE THE PERSIAN GULF AND THE GULF OF OMAN. THOSE PERSONS DESCRIBED IN PARAGRAPH A (APPLICABILITY) ARE PROHIBITED FROM OPERATING IN THE OVERWATER AIRSPACE ABOVE THE PERSIAN GULF AND THE GULF OF OMAN, EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH B (PERMITTED OPERATIONS) BELOW, DUE TO HEIGHTENED MILITARY ACTIVITIES AND INCREASED POLITICAL TENSIONS IN THE MIDDLE EAST, WHICH PRESENT AN INADVERTENT RISK TO U.S. CIVIL AVIATION OPERATIONS DUE TO THE POTENTIAL FOR MISCALCULATION OR MIS-IDENTIFICATION. A. APPLICABILITY. THIS NOTAM APPLIES TO: ALL U.S. AIR CARRIERS AND COMMERCIAL OPERATORS; ALL PERSONS EXERCISING THE PRIVILEGES OF AN AIRMAN CERTIFICATE ISSUED BY THE FAA, EXCEPT SUCH PERSONS OPERATING U.S.-REGISTERED AIRCRAFT FOR A FOREIGN AIR CARRIER; AND ALL OPERATORS OF AIRCRAFT REGISTERED IN THE UNITED STATES, EXCEPT WHEN THE OPERATOR OF SUCH AIRCRAFT IS A FOREIGN AIR CARRIER. B. PERMITTED OPERATIONS. THIS NOTAM DOES NOT PROHIBIT PERSONS DESCRIBED IN PARAGRAPH A (APPLICABILITY) FROM CONDUCTING FLIGHT END PART 1 OF 3. 10 JAN 13:00 2020 UNTIL PERM. CREATED: 10 JAN 11:13 2020 A0008/20 (Issued for KICZ PART 2 OF 3) – OPERATIONS IN THE ABOVE-NAMED AREA AS FOLLOWS: 1. OPERATIONS CONDUCTED INTO AND OUT OF THE AIRPORTS LISTED IN PARAGRAPH B.2 BELOW, IN THE BAHRAIN (OBBB), EMIRATES (OMAE), AND MUSCAT (OOMM) FLIGHT INFORMATION REGIONS (FIRS), ARE PERMITTED, SUBJECT TO THE CONDITIONS DESCRIBED IN PARAGRAPHS B.2 AND B.3 BELOW. 2. FOR OPERATIONS CONDUCTED INTO AND OUT OF BAHRAIN (OBBI), DOHA (OTBD/OTBH), ABU DHABI (OMAA/OMAM), DUBAI (OMDB), SHARJAH (OMSJ), AND MUSCAT (OOMS), OPERATORS MUST BE ON A PUBLISHED INSTRUMENT PROCEDURE OR UNDER THE DIRECTION OF AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL, MINIMIZE OVERWATER OPERATIONS TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT POSSIBLE, AND ARE PROHIBITED FROM ENTERING THE TEHRAN FIR (OIIX) (SEE NOTAM A0002/20). 3. FOR OPERATIONS IN THE MUSCAT FIR (OOMM), FLIGHT OPERATIONS MAY BE CONDUCTED OVERWATER SOUTH OF M628. USE OF M628 IN OVERWATER AREAS IN THE MUSCAT FIR (OOMM) IS NOT AUTHORIZED. 4. OPERATIONS NOT AUTHORIZED UNDER PARAGRAPHS B.1-B.3 MAY BE CONDUCTED IF SUCH OPERATIONS ARE AUTHORIZED EITHER BY ANOTHER AGENCY OF THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT WITH THE APPROVAL OF THE FAA OR BY A DEVIATION, EXEMPTION, OR OTHER AUTHORIZATION ISSUED BY THE FAA END PART 2 OF 3. 10 JAN 13:00 2020 UNTIL PERM. CREATED: 10 JAN 11:13 2020 A0008/20 (Issued for KICZ PART 3 OF 3) – ADMINISTRATOR. OPERATORS MUST CALL THE FAA WASHINGTON OPERATIONS CENTER AT 202-267-3333 TO INITIATE COORDINATION FOR FAA AUTHORIZATION TO CONDUCT OPERATIONS. C. EMERGENCY SITUATIONS. IN AN EMERGENCY THAT REQUIRES IMMEDIATE DECISION AND ACTION FOR THE SAFETY OF THE FLIGHT, THE PILOT IN COMMAND OF AN AIRCRAFT MAY DEVIATE FROM THIS NOTAM TO THE EXTENT REQUIRED BY THAT EMERGENCY. THIS NOTAM IS AN EMERGENCY ORDER ISSUED UNDER 49 USC 40113(A), 44701(A)(5), AND 46105(C). ADDITIONAL INFORMATION IS PROVIDED AT: HTTPS://WWW.FAA.GOV/AIR_TRAFFIC/PUBLICATIONS/US_RESTRICTIONS/. SFC – UNL END PART 3 OF 3, 10 JAN 13:00 2020 UNTIL PERM. CREATED: 10 JAN 11:13 2020US FAA

UK NOTAMs regarding Iraq and Iran

EGTT/LONDON V0003/20 10JAN 0056Z – AIRSPACE SECURITY WARNING ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT FOR TRANSPORT IN RESPONSE TO THE HAZARDOUS SITUATION IN IRAQ. POTENTIAL RISK FROM HEIGHTENED MILITARY ACTIVITY AND DEDICATED ANTI-AVIATION WEAPONRY IN IRAQ. OPERATORS ARE ADVISED NOT TO ENTER THE TERRITORY AND AIRSPACE OF IRAQ (INCLUDING THE BAGHDAD ORBB FIR). FOR INFORMATION CONTACT UK DEPARTMENT FOR TRANSPORT +44 (0)207 944 6322 OR +44 (0)207 944 5999 OUT OF HOURS. 2020-01-0122/AS4. SFC – UNL, 10 JAN 00:56 2020 UNTIL 09 APR 17:00 2020 ESTIMATED. UK Department for Transport

EGTT/LONDON V0002/20 10JAN 0055Z – AIRSPACE SECURITY WARNING ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT FOR TRANSPORT IN RESPONSE TO THE HAZARDOUS SITUATION IN IRAN. POTENTIAL RISK FROM HEIGHTENED MILITARY ACTIVITY AND DEDICATED ANTI-AVIATION WEAPONRY IN IRAN. OPERATORS ARE ADVISED NOT TO ENTER THE TERRITORY AND AIRSPACE OF IRAN (INCLUDING THE OIIX TEHRAN FIR). FOR INFORMATION CONTACT UK DEPARTMENT FOR TRANSPORT +44 (0)207 944 6322 OR +44 (0)207 944 5999 OUT OF HOURS. 2020-01-0122/AS4. SFC – UNL, 10 JAN 00:54 2020 UNTIL 09 APR 17:00 2020 ESTIMATED. UK Department for Transport

France NOTAM regarding Iraq and Iran

F0024/20 (Issued for LFRR LFMM LFFF LFBB LFEE) FRENCH CARRIERS ARE REQUESTED NOT TO AUTHORIZE THEIR AIRCRAFT TO PENETRATE INTO THE AIRSPACE OF IRAQ (FIR ORBB (BAGHDAD) ) AND IRAN (FIR OIIX (TEHERAN). SFC – UNL, 08 JAN 19:11 2020 UNTIL 15 JAN 23:59 2020. CREATED: 08 JAN 19:13 2020French Aviation Authorities