Some International Airlines Start Using Georgian Airspace Instead of Iranian

Many international airlines have started using Georgian airspace instead of Iran due to heightened tension in the Middle East, reports Flightradar24.

“A much busier northern corridor through Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan in the early hours of 9 January as many airlines reroute around Iraq and Iran”, reads the information released by Flightradar24.

The map shows that the aircraft actively use Georgian airspace while flying to European destinations.

A number of international airlines have canceled flights to Iran and Iraq.

South Korea, Malaysia, Singapore and China Airlines made the announcement, saying they would be avoiding Iranian and Iraqi airspace. The reason for this is the recent developments and heightened tension in the Middle East.

The use of airspace in parts of Iran and Iraq is also banned in the US. The US Federal Aviation Administration has issued NOTAMs prohibiting US civil aviation from operating in Iraq, Iran, and over the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman.

The announcements came after Iran launched more than a dozen ballistic missiles against multiple bases housing US troops in Iraq.

Tehran’s attack follows the US killing of Iran’s top general, Qasem Soleimani, last Friday. Tensions in the Middle East rose following his death, with Iran vowing revenge.

In addition, a Boeing 737 belonging to Ukrainian airlines crashed soon after taking off from Tehran’s Imam Khomeini airport on Wednesday, killing all 176 people aboard. 

By Ana Dumbadze 

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