General Civil Aviation Authority says it is monitoring regional developments, and will take all necessary measures promptly
The UAE's General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) on Wednesday called on national air operators to evaluate flightpath risks that may affect aviation operations in light of rising tensions in the region.
In a statement carried by state news agency WAM, the GCAA said that it continues to monitor and assess regional developments, and will take all necessary and appropriate measures promptly.
Its comments follow a statement from Etihad Airways which said it is “continuing to operate normally” despite a number of carriers choosing to avoid airspace over Iran and Iraq after Tehran fired ballistic missiles against bases housing US troops in Iraq.
Iran launched a series of missiles at bases housing US troops in the early hours of Wednesday.
Iran's supreme leader called the attacks a "slap in the face" after a US drone strike killed Iranian military commander Qasem Soleimani near Baghdad international airport last week.
Shortly after the missile attacks, the US Federal Aviation Administration said it was banning US-registered carriers from flying over Iraq, Iran and the Gulf.
Its Russian counterpart, the Federal Air Transport Agency, said it was recommending airlines avoid the air space over Iran, Iraq and the Persian and Oman Gulfs "due to information about current risks for safety of international passenger flights".
A statement from the Abu Dhabi-based carrier said: “Etihad Airways is continuing to operate normally.
“The safety of passengers and employees is the highest priority for Etihad, which is in constant contact with regulatory authorities.
“The airline has robust contingency plans in place in case of changes to air routes.”
The region is an important corridor for flights travelling between Europe and Asia, although planes can be rerouted.
A KLM spokesman told AFP: "Until further notice, KLM has no flights over Iranian or Iraqi airspace. All flights to different Southeast Asian destinations and other destinations in the Middle East will be flown through alternative routes."
Both Emirates and Flydubai cancelled flights to the Iraqi capital on Wednesday for “operational reasons”.
In Germany, Lufthansa said it had cancelled its daily flight to Tehran in addition to halting overflights of Iran and Iraq until further notice.
It added that Saturday's twice-weekly service to northern Iraqi city of Erbil would also not depart.
Poland's national airline LOT had already announced at the weekend that its regular flights in the region were being diverted to keep them out of Iranian airspace.
Australia's Qantas said one of its London-Perth flights would be rerouted, with the other already flying an alternative route.
"We’re adjusting our flight paths over the Middle East to avoid the airspace over Iraq and Iran until further notice," said a spokesman.
Both Singapore Airlines and Malaysia Airlines said they would divert flights from Iranian airspace.
Vietnam Airlines said it will make "appropriate adjustments" of routes to avoid areas of potential instability although its regular flight paths to Europe do not pass over Iran and Iraq.
Japanese airlines ANA and JAL, and Hong Kong-based Cathay Pacific said their planes do not fly through airspace affected by latest flare-up.
Air India spokesman Dhananjay Kumar said the airline's carriers Air India and Air India Express would "temporarily" be rerouted to avoid Iran.
