Iraq extends airspace closure until March 10 amid regional war

Monday 09 - 13:50

By: Dakir Madiha

Iraq extends airspace closure until March 10 amid regional war

Iraq has prolonged the closure of its airspace for another 72 hours as the regional conflict triggered by strikes on Iran continues to disrupt aviation across the Middle East. The Iraqi Civil Aviation Authority confirmed that the country’s skies will remain closed to all arrivals, departures and transit flights until at least noon on March 10 local time.

Iraq first shut down its airspace on February 28 after joint United States and Israeli strikes on Iranian targets escalated into a wider regional confrontation. The operation, described by officials as “Operation Roaring Lion,” prompted retaliatory attacks by Iran against Israeli and American targets across the region. The escalation quickly created a high-risk environment for civilian aviation.

The closure places Iraq at the center of a rapidly shifting air security crisis. The country lies between Israel and Iran within the Baghdad Flight Information Region, a strategic corridor that has become vulnerable to missile and drone activity during the conflict. Aviation authorities say the shutdown remains necessary while security conditions remain unstable.

Since the initial closure, all commercial flights to Iraq’s major airports have been halted. Operations at Baghdad International Airport, Erbil International Airport, Basra International Airport, Sulaymaniyah International Airport and Najaf International Airport remain suspended. Airlines have been forced to cancel flights and reroute aircraft away from Iraqi airspace.

In a single day during the first week of March, aviation data showed at least 53 flight cancellations across four Iraqi airports. Baghdad International Airport alone accounted for 25 of those cancellations, reflecting the scale of disruption to the country’s largest aviation hub.

Major international airlines have temporarily suspended services to Iraq as security concerns persist. Carriers including Qatar Airways, Emirates, Royal Jordanian, Pegasus Airlines, EgyptAir and Turkish Airlines have halted routes to Iraqi destinations. Turkish carriers have expanded their suspensions beyond Iraq to include Iran, Syria, Lebanon and Jordan due to the broader regional instability.

Turkey’s Transport Minister Abdulkadir Uraloglu warned that cancellations could continue if the security situation fails to improve. Airlines across the region are closely monitoring military developments before deciding when to resume operations.

The aviation disruption has left many travelers stranded inside Iraq and abroad. With commercial flights grounded, some passengers have begun seeking alternative routes through neighboring countries.

The United States Embassy in Baghdad has warned that commercial air travel remains unavailable and advised citizens to consider land travel options if necessary. According to embassy guidance, border crossings to Jordan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Turkey remain open for now, although officials caution that these routes could close without notice depending on developments in the conflict.

Iraq’s Foreign Ministry said it is coordinating with neighboring governments to facilitate land evacuations and secure entry visas for Iraqi citizens stranded outside the country. Diplomatic missions have been working to manage the growing number of travelers attempting to exit through land borders.

Authorities in Baghdad continue to describe the airspace shutdown as a temporary precaution. The Iraqi Civil Aviation Authority said each extension of the closure is based on ongoing security assessments and developments in the regional conflict.

The broader impact on aviation across the Middle East has been severe. According to CNN, nearly 14,000 flights across 10 countries in the region have been cancelled since the conflict began. Airspace restrictions and safety concerns have forced airlines to reroute flights, creating longer travel times and higher operational costs.

For now, Iraq remains one of the most heavily affected countries. Positioned between the main actors in the conflict, its airspace has effectively become a buffer zone in a rapidly escalating military confrontation that continues to reshape regional aviation routes.