Conflicts and wars are reshaping air routes: Why your next flight might take longer?

Nowadays, tracking a commercial flight online is very easy , but without a doubt, one of the most striking things on these types of maps is the emptiness observed over conflict zones, also known as "no-fly zones." It's obvious that most flights want to avoid traffic through countries like Ukraine, the Middle East in general, North Korea (because it's also not allowed), among other regions.

Now, with the chaos in Israel, Iran, and Palestine , aviation experts admit that the conflicts are costing commercial airlines time and money , forcing them to divert or cancel flights altogether, as is the case with those traveling to Tel Aviv, the Israeli capital. Beyond geopolitical tensions, there are other factors that can change schedules, such as natural disasters.

Airspace closures

These days, airlines are accustomed to handling sudden closures , but even more so with prolonged ones, such as Ukraine, which has been operating restricted airspace for two years. Brendan Sobie, a Singapore-based aviation consultant, told CNN that schedule changes are "almost the new normal for airlines."

Vacations and business flights are influenced by geopolitics, as evidenced by the tensions between Pakistan and India , as well as Russian airspace, which is currently only flown by Chinese airlines, such as Xiamen Air and Cathay Pacific. "Airlines have departments that constantly analyze airspace issues and assess risks," Sobie explained to the same outlet.

The cost of conflicts for airlines

According to CNN, the current war between Iran and Israel is forcing airlines to add two more hours to already long flights between London and Hong Kong , resulting in additional fuel consumption. This is also evident on short-haul flights between Central Asia and the Middle East, such as Dubai or Doha. These flights, which normally spend two hours in Iranian airspace, can take an additional three to four hours.

Many flights crossing Middle Eastern airspace have been forced to divert through corridors over Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Turkey. But flights have also changed their routes due to natural disasters such as volcanoes. Volcanic ash clouds, according to CNN, contain silica, an element that can fuse with engine parts.