Finance
Russia suspends flights to Iran and Israel
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on February 28, 2026
2 min readLast updated: February 28, 2026
Quick Summary
Russian air carriers have halted flights to Iran and Israel due to airspace closures amid Israel’s pre‑emptive military strike (“Operation Lion’s Roar”) on Iran. Rosaviatsiya and the Transport Ministry are coordinating alternative, longer routes to Gulf states following broader regional airspace res
MOSCOW, Feb 28 (Reuters) - The Russian Ministry of Transport said on Saturday that Russian air carriers had suspended flights to Iran and Israel.
Israel said it launched a pre-emptive attack against Iran on Saturday, pushing the Middle East into a renewed military confrontation and further dimming hopes for a diplomatic solution to Tehran's long-running nuclear dispute with the West.
The ministry said that in connection with the closure of Iranian and Israeli airspace, Russian air carriers, in cooperation with the ministry and Rosaviatsiya aviation watchdog, had worked out alternative flight routes in advance to ensure safe flights to the Persian Gulf countries.
Flight times will increase due to the longer distances, it said.
Rosaviatsiya said in a separate statement published later on Saturday that it had issued recommendations for Russian air carriers after Bahrain, Iraq, Qatar and Kuwait had closed their airspace to ensure flight safety, and UAE authorities had also introduced temporary restrictions on the use of their airspace.
The Russian airspace watchdog said carriers are advised to choose alternative routes when flying to the Persian Gulf countries, observing all safety measures and actively monitoring the recommendations of the aviation authorities of foreign states.
(Reporting by Ksenia Orlova; editing by Guy Faulconbridge, Aidan Lewis)
Key Takeaways
- •Flights to Iran and Israel suspended by Russian carriers after airspace closures and military escalation (theguardian.com)
- •Rosaviatsiya and the Transport Ministry are implementing longer, alternative routes to Persian Gulf countries, advising strict observance of safety measures (theguardian.com)
- •Airspace of Bahrain, Iraq, Qatar, Kuwait is closed and UAE has imposed temporary restrictions, compounding disruptions and requiring active monitoring of foreign aviation advisories (apnews.com)
References
Frequently Asked Questions about Russia suspends flights to Iran and Israel
1Why did Russia suspend flights to Iran and Israel?
Russia suspended flights to Iran and Israel due to the closure of their airspace amid renewed military conflict in the Middle East.
2How are Russian air carriers affected by airspace closures?
Russian air carriers must take alternative routes, leading to longer flight times for destinations in the Persian Gulf.
3Which other countries have closed their airspace due to the conflict?
Bahrain, Iraq, Qatar, and Kuwait have closed their airspace, and the UAE has introduced temporary restrictions.
4What safety measures are Russian carriers implementing?
Russian carriers are advised to follow alternative routes and monitor guidance from aviation authorities to ensure flight safety.
5What triggered the renewed conflict in the Middle East?
Israel launched a pre-emptive attack against Iran, escalating military tensions in the region.