Rising geopolitical tensions in and around Iran have caused widespread disruption to international aviation, with several airlines rerouting, delaying or cancelling flights that typically pass through Iranian airspace — a key corridor linking Asia, Europe, the Middle East and North America.

The instability has prompted aviation authorities and carriers to avoid Iranian and neighbouring airspace as a precautionary safety measure.

A fresh wave of flight cancellations hit over the weekend, with major international carriers including Air France, KLM and Lufthansa suspending or scaling back services to Israel and parts of the Gulf, citing security concerns, according to media reports.

Air France resumed flights to Dubai on Saturday, after temporarily suspending them the previous day due to the geopolitical situation in the Middle East, the airline said.

Dutch carrier KLM has halted flights to several Middle Eastern cities until further notice and will avoid the airspace of countries including Iraq and Iran, according to the Netherlands’ state broadcaster.

Meanwhile, Lufthansa Group has restricted operations to daytime flights on select routes and continues to avoid Iranian airspace.

Other airlines, including United Airlines and Air Canada, have also cancelled flights to Tel Aviv, as aviation groups warn of potential missile and drone threats to civil aviation in the region.

Last week, Iran temporarily closed its airspace for several hours, affecting flights worldwide and highlighting the growing impact of geopolitical tensions on global travel.