KLM, other airlines adjust flight schedules as Middle Eastern airspaces close

Several airlines are adjusting their flight schedules now that the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Bahrain have closed their airspace, according to a spokesperson for Schiphol. This includes KLM, Qatar Airways, Emirates, and Etihad Airways. Kuwait and Iraq have also closed their airspace due to rising tensions between Iran and Israel and the United States.

“What they do in practice when they want to reach their destination is fly around the closed airspace. If that is not possible, they will have to cancel flights,” said the spokesperson for the airport.

KLM does not have to cancel any additional flights due to the closed airspace. “We have already taken precautionary measures in the past week,” a spokesperson for the airline said.

KLM said that it is continuously monitoring the security situation and it always prioritises the safety of passengers and staff. “Selecting safe and optimal routes is a standard part of our daily practice, and we continuously assess the safety situation. The decision not to fly to a specific destination or to avoid a certain airspace is based on the most recent analyses at that time,” said the spokesperson.

FlightRadar previously reported that many aircraft were forced to turn around due to the United Arab Emirates closing the airspace.