Finance
Dutch airline KLM avoids Middle East due to rising tensions
Published by Global Banking and Finance Review
Posted on January 24, 2026
1 min readLast updated: January 24, 2026
Quick Summary
KLM avoids Middle East airspace amid rising tensions, affecting flights to key destinations like Dubai and Riyadh.
Dutch airline KLM avoids Middle East due to rising tensions
KLM's Response to Geopolitical Tensions
AMSTERDAM, Jan 24 (Reuters) - Airline KLM will avoid flying over large parts of the Middle East until further notice due to rising tensions there, the Dutch arm of airline group Air France KLM said on Saturday.
KLM did not specify what provoked the decision. Fears of a conflict between the United States and Iran are growing, however, after U.S. President Donald Trump ordered the deployment of an aircraft carrier strike group and other military assets to the Middle East.
A senior Iranian official said on Friday that Iran would treat any attack "as an all-out war against us".
Affected Destinations
"As a precaution, given the geopolitical situation, KLM will not fly through the airspace of Iran, Iraq and Israel and will not fly over several countries in the Gulf region," a KLM spokesperson said.
Geopolitical Context
"This means KLM will not fly to Dubai, Riyadh, Dammam and Tel Aviv until further notice," the spokesperson added.
(Reporting by Bart Meijer; Editing by Joe Bavier)
Key Takeaways
- •KLM avoids Middle East airspace due to geopolitical tensions.
- •Flights to Dubai, Riyadh, and Tel Aviv are affected.
- •Decision follows U.S. military movements in the region.
- •KLM's precautionary measures impact several Gulf countries.
- •Air France KLM group responds to potential conflict risks.
Frequently Asked Questions about Dutch airline KLM avoids Middle East due to rising tensions
1What is a flight ban?
A flight ban is a prohibition on aircraft flying to or from specific destinations, usually imposed for safety reasons during times of conflict or heightened tensions.
