New security situation

AUA cancels several connections to the Middle East

AUA aircraft will not take off for Iran "as a precautionary measure".(Bild: APA/GEORG HOCHMUTH)

Following the overnight attack on Iran, airlines are reacting to the tense situation in the Middle East. Austrian Airlines announced on Friday that flights to Amman, Erbil and Tel Aviv would be suspended "as a precautionary measure". The security situation will be reassessed.

Flights to and from Tehran had already been suspended up to and including April 30. "Austrian Airlines is continuously monitoring and assessing the security situation in the Middle East and is in close contact with the authorities. The safety of passengers and crews is always our top priority," the spokesperson said.

Other airlines are also reacting to the developments. According to the website "FlightRadar24", the airports in Tehran, Shiraz and Isfahan were temporarily closed in Iran. Air traffic in the western part of the country was also suspended for several hours. Airports and airspace were reopened in the morning, reported the Reuters news agency.

One plane turned back
Iran was attacked with drones on Friday night. According to insiders, Israel was behind the attack. According to Iranian state media, three drones were shot down over the city of Isfahan in the center of the country.

Prior to the reopening of airspace, Flydubai had announced that it was canceling flights to Iran on Friday. One of the earlier flights had returned to Dubai. According to FlightRadar24 data, an Iran Air flight from Rome to Tehran was diverted to the Turkish capital Ankara.

Iranian airspace is being avoided
Many airlines had already reacted before the new escalation. Australia's Quantas announced on Saturday that it was changing its flight route between Perth and London due to the conflict in the Middle East and adding a refueling stop in Singapore to avoid Iranian airspace. On Wednesday, AUA's parent company Lufthansa extended the suspension of flights to Tehran until the end of the month.