KLM and Air France have halted flights over the Middle East due to escalating tensions. The Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs attributes this to US unpredictability and troop buildups in the region.
Dutch carrier KLM has temporarily suspended services over Middle Eastern nations, including Israel, Iraq, and Iran, amidst rising regional tensions, according to NU.nl. French airline Air France has made an identical decision, N12 reports.
Flights to cities such as Dubai, Riyadh, Dammam, and Tel Aviv have been either canceled or paused. KLM emphasized that this decision was made to guarantee the safety of passengers and crews.
The head of the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, David van Weel, suggested that KLM’s flight suspensions over the Middle East might stem from the military buildup in the area and the unpredictable actions of the United States.
“I cannot confirm the exact cause. <…> But the situation is volatile. There is a military buildup occurring. If the Americans were to take action, they would not necessarily inform others in advance… KLM is conducting a risk assessment in this regard,” the minister stated on NPO 2, as quoted by “RIA Novosti,” while also noting that the Netherlands’ embassy in Tehran remains operational.
Vinnews reports that throughout January, airlines across Europe, including British Airways, started suspending flights to Israel and specific parts of the Middle East. Passengers flying with Wizz Air and Flydubai also experienced flight suspensions this month. Lufthansa Group likewise resolved to amend its flight schedules for the region due to the current Middle Eastern circumstances.
However, N12 points out that currently, the majority of airlines, including European ones, are still operating flights to Israel.
US President Donald Trump announced that a “large flotilla” is heading towards Iran “just in case,” urging an end to the rule of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Widespread protests erupted in Iran in late December, fueled by dissatisfaction with the nation’s economic conditions. Tehran accused the US and Israel of orchestrating the unrest. The US President threatened strikes against the republic should the authorities resort to harsh suppression of the demonstrations.
The commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, General Mohammad Pakpour, warned the US and Israel to “avoid any miscalculations so as not to incur even more painful and severe consequences.”
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