The European Union Aviation Safety Agency on Monday narrowed its airspace warning for the Persian Gulf, advising airlines to avoid only the waters of the Persian Gulf within Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates until September 30.
The updated advisory was issued hours after the United States and Iran resumed hostilities for the first time since late July. EASA previously recommended avoiding the entire airspace of those four countries. The agency maintained that risks over Persian Gulf waters remain high, but said flights necessary for arrivals and departures from airports within the affected flight information regions could proceed with appropriate safety measures. Operators were asked to exercise caution while flying over land territory in the affected areas.
Airlines were also advised not to operate over Gulf of Oman waters within Oman’s Muscat flight information region. EASA lifted its previous recommendation that airlines avoid Jordanian airspace, instead advising carriers to exercise caution through September 30.
Warnings for Iran, Iraq and Lebanon were extended until the end of September. Flights arriving at or departing from Beirut were permitted provided the approach began from the sea or the departure ended over the sea.
