EU aviation agency warns airlines to avoid Gulf airspace

Investing.com -- The European Union Aviation Safety Agency reinstated and strengthened its warning to airlines on Tuesday, directing them to avoid the airspace of Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and over the Gulf of Oman as conflict between the United States and Iran intensified.

EASA withdrew its previous advisory a week ago after a temporary easing of regional tensions following an interim ceasefire between Tehran and Washington last month. That earlier warning had asked airlines to use caution when flying within the airspace of these countries, as well as Israel, Jordan, Oman, and Saudi Arabia.

The new advisory remains in effect until July 29.

Iran launched ballistic missiles at a U.S. air base in Jordan on Tuesday. U.S. forces conducted waves of attacks for the third consecutive night after Iran announced on Saturday it was closing the Strait of Hormuz. This action led U.S. President Donald Trump to reinstate a blockade of Iranian shipping and propose a 20% fee to guard the waterway.

"The presence of major US military facilities in the region increases the likelihood that the states covered by this Conflict Zone Information Bulletin may be directly exposed to Iranian missile and drone attacks," EASA said. The agency also cited the risk of misidentification of civil aircraft by U.S. and other air defense systems.

EASA extended its separate advisory last week asking airlines not to operate within the airspace of Iran, Iraq, and Lebanon until the end of August.

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