KLM has decided to suspend flights to the Middle East for the time being.
The airline is taking this measure because of what it describes as "the geopolitical situation" in the region. KLM confirmed this in a response to the NOS. The decision means that several popular destinations have been removed from the schedule with immediate effect and that the airspace above various countries will also be avoided.
As a precautionary measure, KLM will no longer fly through the airspace of Iraq, Iran, Israel, and various countries in the Gulf region. Specifically, this involves the suspension of all flights to Tel Aviv, Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, and the Saudi cities of Dammam and Riyadh. These destinations will no longer be served "until further notice." The airline cannot yet say when flights may resume.
no flight ban
KLM does not want to specify the exact reason for the decision. According to a spokesperson, it is a decision that the company has made itself. "There is no flight ban in the region," said the spokesperson. "But we are in contact with the Dutch authorities. We make these kinds of decisions every day, and we are not alone in doing so." KLM thus emphasizes that safety considerations are paramount, even if there are no formal restrictions imposed by governments or international aviation organizations.
The measure also affects KLM staff in the region. The airline has employees stationed in Dammam and Dubai. According to KLM, these employees will be picked up tomorrow. Passengers who are stranded or unable to continue their journey as a result of the decision can rebook their flight with another airline that still flies to the destinations in question. However, travelers must arrange this themselves. The exact number of passengers affected by the decision has not been disclosed.
night flights
KLM is not alone in this decision. Other major airlines have also adjusted their flight schedules. Air France canceled two flights to Dubai this evening and has also canceled upcoming flights to Tel Aviv. British Airways has also announced that it will no longer operate flights to Dubai. Earlier this week, the German airline Lufthansa announced that it would no longer fly over Iran and Iraq. In addition, Lufthansa will no longer operate night flights to Tel Aviv and Amman in Jordan; for the time being, these flights will only be operated during the day.
The decisions taken by the airlines appear to be linked to the increasing tensions in and around Iran. The unrest in the country has been going on for weeks and is accompanied by large-scale protests. At the same time, US President Donald Trump announced that he would be sending additional military ships to the Middle East. He referred to this as "an armada." Trump did not make any statements about concrete plans for an attack, but he did talk about "just in case."
The United States has criticized the deadly violence during protests in Iran, which according to reports have claimed thousands of lives in recent weeks. American media report that among the ships deployed are the aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln, one of the largest ships in the US Navy, as well as several destroyers equipped with guided missiles. These ships are expected to arrive in the Middle East in the coming days.
attacks
The military build-up would give President Trump the ability to take military action against Iran. So far, this has not happened, despite repeated warnings to Tehran. Trump has mentioned two clear red lines: the killing of peaceful protesters and the mass execution of prisoners. Meanwhile, the situation remains tense. Israel, an important ally of the United States in the region, is seen by some countries as a possible factor in further escalation. Turkish Foreign Minister Fidan even spoke of "indications that Israel still intends to attack Iran."
risk assessment
Dutch Minister Van Weel responded to the news on the television program Café Kockelmann. "The situation is unstable, troops are being deployed. If the Americans were to take action, they would not necessarily inform others in advance. KLM is weighing up the risks here and they are responsible for that," he said. At the same time, the minister emphasized that the Dutch embassy in Tehran "is open and functioning as normal."
Check thetravel advicefor a country or region. Read about the color code, any safety risks, and what you need for your trip.
