Travellers face longer flights as airlines have ‘zero pressure to save time’ to avoid war zones

The Middle East is a crucial area for flights connecting continents like the US, Europe, and Asia. However, recent conflicts have made it difficult for airlines to operate normally. The war between Israel and Hamas, along with Russia's invasion of Ukraine, has forced airlines to change their routes, leading to longer flights. Israel's national airline, El Al, has had to fly around certain areas, adding hours to their Bangkok flights. They've also had to cancel or delay flights to other Asian destinations.

Many airlines have stopped flying to Tel Aviv due to safety concerns, and this has led to a decrease in people wanting to travel to the region. Conflicts in the Middle East have resulted in no-fly zones over countries like Yemen, Syria, and Sudan. Western airlines also avoid flying over Iran, which pushes their routes over Iraq. If more airspace closures happen, it would affect hundreds of daily flights, forcing airlines to take longer, costlier detours.

European and North American airlines have had to find new routes around Russian airspace, which has been closed to them. This has made flights to Asia longer and more expensive. For example, each extra hour in the air costs thousands of dollars more. Chinese airlines have an advantage because they can still fly over Russia, which is shorter. They're offering more flights to places like the UK and Italy, taking business away from other airlines. Air India has also gained a big part of the market for flights between India and North America. The aviation industry is facing new challenges with these airspace closures, affecting how airlines plan their flights.